The U.S. State Department on Friday announced sanctions against 34 individuals and companies affiliated with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) for their roles in advancing the country’s ballistic missile program.
The move comes as part of an effort to curb Iran’s nuclear and missile activities, as well as to hold the government accountable for human rights abuses. The sanctioned entities are based in Iran, Turkey, and Hong Kong, and include companies that manufacture and supply Iran’s ballistic missiles.
These designations target key actors involved in Iran’s ballistic missile development,” said a State Department official. We will continue to use all available tools to counter Iran’s support for terrorism and its provocative missile activities.
The sanctions, which were imposed under Executive Order 13382, bar the individuals and companies from accessing the U.S. financial system and prohibit U.S. citizens from doing business with them.
This is not the first time the United States has targeted Iran’s ballistic missile program with sanctions. In January, the Treasury Department imposed similar measures on a network of individuals and companies affiliated with the IRGC for their roles in supplying ballistic missile-related materials to Iran.
Iran continues to defy international pressure and develop its nuclear and missile capabilities. The country has been under U.S. sanctions for decades due to its support for terrorism, human rights abuses, and pursuit of nuclear weapons.
The United States remains committed to working with its allies and partners to address the threats posed by Iran’s nuclear program, ballistic missile development, and support for terrorism.