The U.S. Treasury Department announced on Friday that it has imposed sanctions on 10 individuals and related companies for allegedly assisting Iran’s military in obtaining materials for weapons and building the “Shahed” unmanned aerial vehicle and ballistic missile projects. The sanctioned entities include several companies and businesses located in mainland China and Hong Kong.
The Treasury Department stated in an announcement on its official website that the targets of these sanctions are part of Iran’s weapons procurement network, which is a key pillar of its drone production capability.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent declared in a statement, “As the surviving leaders of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps find themselves trapped like cornered animals, the Treasury Department’s ‘economic fury’ remains undiminished.”
“Under President Trump’s decisive leadership, we will continue to take action to defend American security and combat foreign individuals and entities providing weapons to Iran to confront U.S. forces.”
The Treasury Department emphasized its commitment to maintain economic pressure on Iran’s military industrial base to prevent Tehran from rebuilding its manufacturing capabilities and extending its influence beyond its borders.
Furthermore, the department warned that it is prepared to take further action against foreign companies supporting Iran’s illegal trade activities, including related airlines, and may impose secondary sanctions on foreign financial institutions assisting Iran, including those connected to China’s so-called private “tea-pot refineries.”
Several Chinese companies and businesses have been listed for sanctions, including:
– Yushita Shanghai International Trade Co Ltd based in China;
– Elite Energy FZCO headquartered in Dubai;
– AE International Trade Co Limited based in Hong Kong;
– HK Hesin Industry Co Limited located in Hong Kong;
– Armory Alliance LLC based in Belarus;
– Mustad Limited headquartered in Hong Kong;
– Pishgam Electronic Safeh Company (PESC) based in Iran;
– Hitex Insulation Ningbo Company Limited located in China.
The individuals sanctioned include:
– Mohammadmahdi Maleki, an Iranian citizen of Belarus, employed by Armory Alliance;
– Mohammed Ali Tolibov, Belarusian nationality, CEO of Armory Alliance;
– Li Genping, a Chinese citizen and legal representative of Hitex Insulation Ningbo Company.
The timing of these U.S. sanctions is sensitive, coming just days before President Trump’s planned meeting with Chinese Communist Party leader Xi Jinping in Beijing, and amid stalled efforts to end military conflicts between the U.S. and Iran.
Earlier, negotiations on the Iran nuclear deal collapsed, leading to military confrontations between the two sides. Although ceasefire talks are reportedly ongoing, progress has been limited.
Analysts point out that these sanctions are in line with the Trump administration’s policy of “maximum pressure” on Iran. The U.S. has also threatened to impose high tariffs on countries providing weapons to Iran, indicating Washington’s tough stance on the issue and decreasing the likelihood of reaching diplomatic agreements with Tehran in the near future.
Meanwhile, the U.S. Department of State is also imposing sanctions on four entities involved in Iran’s conventional weapons activities.