The U.S. Department of State has announced sanctions on Iran’s construction and civil engineering sector, as well as on 10 industrial materials with potential military use. Any individual or entity that provides these materials to Iran will be subject to sanctions.
According to the U.S., these materials are used in the Iranian regime’s nuclear or military programs.
In a statement released on Wednesday, May 21, the U.S. Department of State announced that it has sanctioned 10 strategic materials used in connection with Iran’s nuclear, military, or ballistic missile programs.
According to the statement, the newly sanctioned materials include austenitic nickel-chromium alloy, magnesium ingots, sodium perchlorate, tungsten-copper composite, and certain aluminum sheets and pipes.
The U.S. State Department, pointing to the expansion of sanctions, emphasized:
- identifying Iran’s construction sector as being controlled directly or indirectly by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)
The U.S. Department of State also announced that, in coordination with the Treasury Department, it is sanctioning Iran’s construction sector, which is directly or indirectly controlled by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
Previously, in 2019 during the first term of U.S. President Donald Trump, the State Department had targeted Iran’s construction sector as part of its “maximum pressure” campaign against the Iranian regime.
According to the then spokesperson for the State Department, Iran’s civil and construction sector is under the control of the IRGC, which is designated by the United States as a terrorist organization.
Also in 2019, the U.S. warned that any individual or entity selling, supplying, or transferring sanctioned materials to Iran’s construction sector would face mandatory sanctions.
In its statement on Wednesday, May 21, the U.S. Department of State also emphasized that any individual or entity that knowingly sells, supplies, or transfers raw or semi-finished metals, graphite, coal, or industrial software to Iran—whether directly or indirectly—and if these materials are used in connection with Iran’s construction sector, will be subject to mandatory sanctions.
At the end of its statement, the U.S. Department of State declared that it will continue its campaign of maximum economic pressure against the Iranian regime until it ends its nuclear threat, halts its ballistic missile program, and ceases support for terrorist groups.
