WANA (Nov 12) – The U.S. Department of the Treasury announced on Wednesday a new round of sanctions against a group of individuals and entities linked to Iran.

 

According to official U.S. sources, the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has designated 32 individuals and entities based in Iran, the United Arab Emirates, Turkey, China, Hong Kong, India, Germany, and Ukraine, accusing them of operating procurement networks that support the production of Iranian ballistic missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

 

John K. Hurley, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, reiterated Washington’s previous claims, saying that “Iran continues to exploit the international financial system to procure components for its nuclear and conventional weapons programs.” He added that the U.S. government, “under the direction of the President, is pursuing a maximum pressure campaign to end the nuclear threat posed by Tehran.”

 

These allegations come as Iranian officials have repeatedly emphasized that the country’s missile and drone programs are purely defensive in nature and that Iran’s nuclear activities are conducted within the framework of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) regulations and for peaceful purposes.

WANA - U.S.- Sanctions