The U.S. Government has imposed sanctions against a transportation service provider for delivering Iranian drones to Russia to support the invasion of Ukraine and three other companies and an Iranian citizen involved in the research, development, production and sale of such devices to Iran's Revolutionary Guard.
"Russia is making increasingly desperate decisions to maintain its unprovoked war against Ukraine, particularly in the face of our unprecedented sanctions and export controls," U.S. Treasury Department Deputy Secretary Brian Nelson has said.
Thus, he has indicated that "the United States is committed to strictly enforcing sanctions against Russia and Iran and holding Iran and those who support Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine accountable." "We will not hesitate to act against producers and suppliers who contribute to Iran's drone program and the Revolutionary Guard, demonstrating our determination to act against terrorist associates who destabilize the Middle East," he said.
The U.S. Treasury Department noted that Tehran-based Safiran Airport Services coordinated military flights between Iran and Russia, including those "associated with the transportation of drones, personnel and related equipment from Iran to Russia." The others sanctioned are Paravar Pars Company, Design and Manufacturing of Aircraft Engines (DAMA), Baharestan Kish Company and Rehmatollah Heidari, accused of acting on behalf of the latter company.
For his part, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has emphasized that "the Russian military suffers severe supply problems in Ukraine, in part because of sanctions and export controls, forcing Russia to turn to unreliable countries like Iran for supplies and equipment."
"The United States will hold accountable those who support the unprovoked war launched by Russia against Ukraine, including continuing sanctions against Iranians or other entities that deliver lethal aid to Russia," he has stressed. "We will also use all available tools, including sanctions, to prevent, deter and dismantle supply networks that deliver drone-related material and technology to Iran, as well as Iranian entities engaged in this proliferation," he concluded.