Iranian drone Mohajer 10 is being exhibited during the Defense Industry Fair in Tehran, Iran on August 23, 2023. (Photo by Anadolu)
The US has placed sanctions on entities and individuals based in Iran and three other countries for what it called aiding Irans drone program, repeating its unsubstantiated claim of Tehrans support for Russias war effort in Ukraine.
The US Treasury Department said in a statement on Wednesday that it had put sanctions on five entities and two people based in Iran, Turkey, China and the UAE, claiming they were part of a network helping procure sensitive parts for Irans unmanned aerial vehicle program.
The Treasury statement claimed the network facilitated shipments and financial transactions for the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps procurement of sensitive parts used in Iranian drones. It claimed a motor procured by the network was recently found in the remains of a Russia-operated drone in Ukraine.
The US has so far imposed similar sanctions on a number of entities and individuals based in Iran and other countries, accusing them of supporting Tehrans drone development.
Washington and its allies have long accused Iran of supplying drones to Russia for use in Ukraine.
Iran has repeatedly rejected Washingtons claim, saying it has not sold any weapons to Russia to be used in the war against Ukraine, and asked the West to offer evidence for the allegation.
Irans Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian has said that Tehran had provided Moscow with a limited number of drones, but the delivery had taken place months before the war in Ukraine.
Irans military development has been a target of many Western sanctions throughout recent decades.
In July 2021, The Wall Street Journal reported that the US was planning a sanctions campaign against Irans defensive drones and guided missiles program, six months after the administration of President Joe Biden was sworn in.
Citing unnamed US officials, the daily said the sanctions were aimed at disrupting the development of Irans weapons program.
LINK: https://www.ansarpress.com/english/27293
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