US Sanctions 44 Iranian Entities and Individuals Over Nuclear Development and Weapons

The US Department of the Treasury and the Department of State announced on October 1 (local time) that they have designated 44 entities and individuals related to Iran's nuclear development and procurement of weapons and components as targets for sanctions.

This measure is intended to support the United Nations sanctions against Iran, which were automatically reinstated (snapback) on September 28 following Iran's non-compliance with the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

US Treasury Department building. Photo by Reuters and Yonhap News Agency

The Treasury Department added 21 entities and 17 individuals to the sanctions list, while the State Department designated 1 entity and 5 individuals. They are accused of being involved in the illegal import of ballistic missile, helicopter, and radar components, as well as research and development related to nuclear weapons.

The State Department’s sanctions list includes Major General Reza Mozafariniya of the Organization of Defensive Innovation and Research (SPND), who is reportedly leading nuclear weapons research and development in Iran. SPND was established by Iranian nuclear scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, who was assassinated by US forces in 2020. During a conflict in June, Israel claimed that this organization was a continuation of Iran's secret nuclear weapons program, the "Amad Project," and conducted airstrikes against it.

Military supply companies under Iran’s Ministry of Defense, as well as their representatives, were also targeted by the Treasury Department’s sanctions. They are accused of smuggling US-made helicopters into Iran and importing American components necessary for manufacturing ballistic missiles and radar systems. The sanctions also target a multinational weapons and components smuggling network, including Chinese national Emily Liu, who is wanted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) for allegedly secretly transferring US-made parts to Iran.

Entities and individuals subject to these sanctions will have their assets in the United States frozen, and foreign financial institutions that conduct transactions with them will also face secondary sanctions. This effectively amounts to economic isolation.

Treasury Secretary Scott Besant stated, "The Iranian regime’s support for terrorist proxy groups and pursuit of nuclear weapons threatens the security of the Middle East, the United States, and our allies around the world," adding, "We will block the weapons that the regime could use to pursue its malign objectives."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.