The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control is imposing sanctions on companies and individuals based in the Middle East and East Asia for the export of American and foreign-made components to support Iran’s unmanned aerial vehicle production.
In a notice published Tuesday, OFAC named Iran-based Hossein Hatefi Ardakani, Mehdi Dehghani Mohammadabadi and Gholamreza Ebrahimzadeh Ardakani and Indonesian Agung Surya Dewanto pursuant to Executive Order 13382 for providing or attempting to provide financial, material, technological and other goods and services to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Aerospace Force Self Sufficiency Jihad Organization.
According to the Treasury, Ardakani leads a transnational procurement network and directly contracts with IRGC ASF SSJO through front companies in Malaysia, Hong Kong and other countries. Ardakani serves as chairman of Kavan Electronics, manages Teyf Tadbir and owns Basamad Electronics.
Mohammadabadi is CEO at Kavan Electronics.
Malaysia- and Hong Kong-based companies Skyline, Dirac, ISM Tech and Arta Wave and Indonesia-based Surabaya Hobby are also included in OFAC’s latest sanctions list. These foreign firms are involved in the acquisition of and selling of servomotors, antennas, gas thrusters and other UAV-applicable items.
“Iran’s illicit production and proliferation of its deadly UAVs to its terrorist proxies in the Middle East and to Russia continues to exacerbate tensions and prolong conflicts, undermining stability,” said Brian E. Nelson, undersecretary for terrorism and financial intelligence at the Treasury.