Key points
- Sanctions part of the US’ maximum pressure campaign
- Action aimed to disrupt efforts of purported Iranian entity PKGB
- Wednesday’s order follows previous US sanctions
ISLAMABAD: The United States has imposed sanctions on six entities based in China that have allegedly been involved in the procurement of key components by entities connected to Iran’s UAV and ballistic missile programmes.
The US Treasury Department said the action, which is part of President Trump’s maximum pressure campaign on Iran, aimed to disrupt efforts by the purported Iranian entity Pishtazan Kavosh Gostar Boshra (PKGB) to reconstitute its procurement network and continue obtaining critical parts from foreign suppliers.
“The United States will use all available means to expose and disrupt Iran’s growing UAV and missile development and proliferation, which destabilises the Middle East and beyond. We will continue to act against the complex schemes Iran employs to conceal its acquisition of sensitive technology for its missile and UAV programmes,” the State Department.
The United States will use all available means to expose and disrupt Iran’s growing UAV and missile development and proliferation, which destabilises the Middle East and beyond.” – US Department of State
The statement said these programmes produced missiles and drones that Iran used against US allies and exported to its proxy groups and Russia.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent
“Iran continues to try to find new ways to procure the key components it needs to bolster its UAV weapons program through new front companies and third-country suppliers,” Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in a statement.
“Treasury remains committed to disrupting the schemes that enable Iran to send its deadly weapons abroad to its terrorist proxies and other destabilising actors.”
Previous sanctions
Wednesday’s order follows the US sanctioning earlier this month of two other Hong Kong firms – Duling Technology HK and Advantage Trading Company – affiliated with Iranian firm Pishtazan Kavosh Gostar Boshra (PKGB) and its subsidiary Narin Sepehr Mobin Isatis (NSMI).
When those Hong Kong front companies were blocked, Treasury said, PKGB and NSMI reconfigured their network to route restricted goods through the six other front companies sanctioned on Wednesday.
