The United States has imposed fresh sanctions on 13 individuals and entities in Russia, China, Hong Kong, Pakistan and Iran over alleged efforts to help Tehran procure weapons and related components.
The sanctions, announced by the US Treasury and State departments on Tuesday, are part of the Trump administration’s broader campaign to economically isolate Iran and pressure it into negotiations to end the war that began with a US-Israeli strike on Iran on February 28.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Washington would continue targeting those supporting Iran’s procurement networks.
“Treasury will not tolerate any support to the regime and will continue to identify, expose, and isolate Iran’s enablers,” he said.
The Treasury said the latest measures were intended to weaken Tehran’s ability to rebuild its weapons programmes while increasing the costs for individuals and companies involved in procurement activities.
Among those sanctioned was Seyyed Asghar Alizadeh Tabatabai, a Beijing-based representative of Iran’s Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics agency. The Treasury accused him of coordinating the purchase of finished weapons systems and dual-use components from China for Iran.
Also targeted were Iran-based Kavoshcom Asia R&D Group, which was accused of procuring electronic components including connectors for Iran Aircraft Manufacturing Industrial Company, and Hong Kong-based EC Mojo Technology Co Limited, which allegedly supplied electronic components to support those procurement efforts. EC Mojo’s China-based representative Li Fen was also sanctioned.
The US also targeted Pakistan-based Waseem Pasha Tajammal, chairman of privately owned defence company Cavalier Group, as well as Russia’s Joint Stock Company Experimental Design Bureau Named After A.S. Yakovlev, a major aircraft manufacturer, and Russian shipping company MG-Flot LLC, whose vessels the Treasury said transport weapons for the Russian government.
Iran-based Saha Airlines, which is affiliated with the country’s air force, was also included in the sanctions.
However, Brett Erickson, managing principal at Obsidian Risk Advisors, said the latest measures were unlikely to significantly disrupt Iran’s ability to launch missiles and drones in the Strait of Hormuz.
He characterised the move as largely symbolic, arguing that it allowed the Trump administration to portray its Iran policy as aggressive while having limited practical impact on Tehran’s military capabilities.
