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6d ago

U.S. Sanctions 10 Over Iran’s Shahed Drone Supply Network

The move signals stepped-up pressure on foreign firms that enable Iran’s drone supply lines.

A bronze seal for the Department of the Treasury is shown at the U.S. Treasury building in Washington, U.S., January 20, 2023. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque
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According to the British government-funded Centre for Information Resilience, Iran has the industrial capacity to manufacture around 10,000 drones per month.

Overview

  • The Treasury named 10 individuals and companies, several in China and Hong Kong, for helping Iran secure weapons and raw materials used to build Shahed drones.
  • Officials warned they could impose secondary sanctions on foreign banks that facilitate Iranian transactions, including those tied to China’s independent “teapot” refineries, which are smaller private plants that process crude.
  • The department said it will keep targeting Iran’s military industrial base to block Tehran from restoring production capacity or projecting power abroad.
  • The announcement comes days before President Trump’s planned trip to China for talks with Xi Jinping, a timing that highlights pressure on partners linked to the supply network.
  • Treasury also put non-bank firms on notice, saying airlines and other companies that enable illicit commerce with Iran could face penalties, and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the campaign aims to keep Americans safe.