U.S. Treasury issues new round of sanctions against entities accused of supporting Iran's drone, missile programs

The U.S. Treasury Department on Friday announced a new round of sanctions against 10 individuals and companies it accused of helping enable Iran's drone and ballistic missile programs.

The sanctions, implemented by the U.S. Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control, target those "that are enabling efforts by Iran's military to secure weapons, as well as raw materials with applications in Iran's Shahed‑series unmanned aerial vehicles and ballistic missile program," the Treasury Department said in a news release.

The State Department was targeting another four entities with sanctions, the Treasury Department said. 

Among those sanctioned were companies based in China, Dubai, Hong Kong and Belarus that the Treasury Department alleged have served as intermediaries, helping Iran's Center for Innovation and Technology Cooperation, the CITC, with "financial, material, technological or other support."

According to the Treasury Department, the CITC has sought to purchase weapons and air defense systems from China.

One of the sanctioned companies, Hong Kong-based Mustad Limited, has helped, or attempted to help, Iran procure "millions of dollars' worth of weapons," the Treasury Department stated.

"Under President Trump's decisive leadership, we will continue to act to Keep America Safe and target foreign individuals and companies providing Iran's military with weapons for use against U.S. forces," Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in a statement.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a separate statement that Friday's sanctions hold "China-based entities accountable for their support to Iran. The United States will take all necessary action at its disposal to target third-country entities and individuals aiding Iran's military and defense industrial base."