As part of its ongoing maximum pressure policy, the United States imposed new sanctions targeting supply networks linked to the Iranian regime’s drone and missile programs; a move that U.S. officials say is intended to disrupt the regime’s weapons activities.Under this decision, eight individuals and four entities involved in managing support networks for the Iranian regime’s drone and ballistic missile programs have been sanctioned. Additionally, two aircraft linked to Mahan Air—a regime airline previously accused by Western governments of supporting military logistics—have been designated as blocked assets; according to officials, these aircraft had been used in the past by agents of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to transport weapons, equipment, and money.
Tommy Pigott, Deputy Spokesperson for the U.S. Department of State, said in a statement that ” These designations support Operation Epic Fury and President Trump’s National Security Presidential Memorandum-2 directive to counter Iran’s weapons programs. Today’s action also supports the implementation of United Nations sanctions and restrictive measures on Iran, which were reimposed as a direct result of Iran’s ‘significant non-performance’ of its nuclear commitments.”
Another part of the statement said that “The United States will continue to use all available means to expose, disrupt, and counter Iran’s threatening activities to protect America’s interests.”
These sanctions have been imposed under executive orders related to countering the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and support for terrorist groups.
Previously, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, referring to the policy of economic pressure, said that the Treasury Department would strongly target regime figures such as the Shamkhani family—referring to Ali Shamkhani, a former senior advisor to Iran’s regime leadership—who are accused of amassing wealth at the expense of the Iranian people.
