The US imposed sanctions on four entities on Friday, February 2, for supplying materials and sensitive technology used in Iran’s ballistic missile and UAV programs. This decision comes after the death of three US soldiers on January 28 in a drone attack carried out by armed groups supported by Iran at the Syrian-Jordanian border.
The United States announced on Friday through the Department of State’s spokesperson, Matthew Miller, that it had taken new strong measures by imposing sanctions on four entities identified as front companies and subsidiaries associated with Hamed Dehghan and Pishtazan Kavosh Gostar Boshra (PKGB). These entities are alleged to have played a significant role in providing materials and sensitive technology for Iran’s ballistic missile and Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) programs. The ramifications of such actions extend beyond the Iranian borders, as the Shahed-series UAVs supplied by these entities have found use in the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
“Iranian-made UAVs are used to commit acts of terror, including dozens of attacks by Iran- aligned militia groups on US personnel that have resulted in the deaths of US soldiers,” Miller said in the released statement. The sanctions come in response to Iran-backed Houthi attacks on commercial vessels and US naval assets using Iranian-made UAVs and missiles. The United States, through these new sanctions, aims to disrupt the networks facilitating such attacks and prevent further destabilization in key regions.
