WANA (May 09) – The U.S. Department of the Treasury added the names of 3 individuals and 9 companies to the list of sanctions imposed against Iran on Saturday morning (Tehran time) under the pretext of weapons non-proliferation.

 

The three sanctioned individuals are nationals of Iran, China, and Belarus. All the sanctioned companies are also based in Belarus and China.

 

The U.S. stated that these individuals and companies assisted Iran’s weapons sector and engaged in the procurement of raw materials for the production of “Shahed” drones.

 

This action takes place with only a few days remaining before Donald Trump’s scheduled trip to China to meet with Xi Jinping, and as diplomatic efforts to end the war with Iran have reached a deadlock.

 

The Treasury Department’s statement specifies that these sanctions specifically target companies in China and Hong Kong that played a role in the supply chain of military parts and raw materials for Iran’s drone industries.

 

Washington stated it is prepared to take action against any foreign company, including airlines, that cooperates in illegal trade with Iran.

 

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in a statement, echoing anti-Iranian claims: “We will continue to target foreign individuals and companies that provide the weapons the Iranian military needs to use against American forces, in order to maintain U.S. security.”

 

Analysts believe the timing of these sanctions, just before Trump’s trip to Beijing, is an explicit message to the Chinese government to halt its economic and logistical support for Tehran amidst the ongoing conflicts in the Strait of Hormuz.