US imposes sanctions on network ‘supporting Iran’s UAV’
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – The United States Department of the Treasury imposed on Wednesday sanctions on a procurement network for supporting Iran’s drone and military programs.
In a fresh action, the US Department of the Treasury targeted companies and suppliers in China and Iran to put more pressure on Tehran.
In a statement, the Treasury Department said it imposed sanctions on the head of Iran’s Pardazan System Namad Arman (PASNA), and the entity’s front companies and suppliers in Iran, Malaysia, Hong Kong and China that Washington said have enabled PASNA’s procurement of goods and technology.
“The network sanctioned today has procured goods and technology for the Iranian government and its defense industry and UAV program,” said Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Brian E. Nelson.
“Treasury will continue to enforce its sanctions against Iran’s military procurement efforts that contribute to regional insecurity and global instability,” Nelson added.
The department targeted the managing director of PASNA, Mehdi Khoshghadam, accusing him of being responsible for the company’s sanctions evasion efforts. It said he used front companies to seek a variety of electronic components from suppliers based primarily in China.
Three China-based suppliers of PASNA were also targeted in Wednesday’s action alongside a Hong Kong-based company, a Malaysia-based front company and one based in Iran, Reuters said.