In a move aimed at curbing Iran’s ballistic missile program, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) today announced sanctions against six entities and six individuals based in Iran and the People’s Republic of China (PRC). The sanctions target a network accused of procuring key ballistic missile propellant ingredients for Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
According to the Treasury Department, this network facilitated the acquisition of sodium perchlorate and dioctyl sebacate from the PRC to Iran.
Sodium perchlorate is a crucial component in the production of ammonium perchlorate, a substance controlled by the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR), an international effort to limit missile proliferation. Both ammonium perchlorate and dioctyl sebacate are vital chemicals used in solid propellant rocket motors, commonly utilized in ballistic missiles.
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“Iran’s aggressive development of missiles and other weapons capabilities imperils the safety of the United States and our partners,” stated Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent. “It also destabilizes the Middle East and violates the global agreements intended to prevent the proliferation of these technologies. To achieve peace through strength, Treasury will continue to take all available measures to deprive Iran’s access to resources necessary to advance its missile program.”
The sanctions were imposed under Executive Order (E.O.) 13382, which targets proliferators of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and their means of delivery.
This action also aligns with National Security Presidential Memo 2, which directs the U.S. government to actively counter Iran’s ballistic missile program, including potential UN sanctions snapback and disruption of the IRGC. The IRGC was previously designated under E.O. 13382 in October 2007.
Entities and Individuals Sanctioned Tuesday:
- Saman Tejarat Barman Trading Company (STB): An Iran-based company accused of procuring sodium perchlorate for the IRGC.
- Mohammad Asgari: An Iran-based STB associate who allegedly coordinated the shipment of sodium perchlorate from the PRC to the IRGC in Iran.
- Shenzhen Amor Logistics Co Ltd: A PRC-based company that reportedly coordinated STB shipments, including with the previously sanctioned E-Sail Shipping Company Limited.
- Abed Zargar Bab Aldashti, Hamed Zargar Bab Aldashti, and Zahra Zargar Bab Aldashti: Key leaders within STB, holding positions as Managing Director, Chairman of the Board, and Vice Chairman of the Board, respectively.
- Forough Modarres Fathi: An Iran-based individual who served as Vice Chairman and a member of the Board of Directors of STB.
- Abbas Pour Kazemi: An Iran-based individual identified as the Chief Inspector for STB.
- Dongying Weiaien Chemical Co Ltd: A PRC-based company that allegedly supplied dioctyl sebacate to STB.
- Yanling Chuanxing Chemical Plant General Partnership: A PRC-based entity that reportedly shipped products, including sodium chlorate (a precursor to sodium perchlorate and ammonium perchlorate), on behalf of Shenzhen Amor.
- China Chlorate Tech Co Limited (CCT): A PRC-based company that allegedly transferred funds to Yanling Chuanxing Chemical Plant and identified it as its factory.
- Yanling Lingfeng Chlorate Co Ltd: A PRC-based company that reportedly received funds from CCT and shares personnel with both CCT and Yanling Chuanxing Chemical Plant.
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Sanctions Implications:
As a result of these designations, all property and interests in property of the sanctioned individuals and entities within the United States or under the control of U.S. persons are now blocked and must be reported to OFAC.
Furthermore, any entities owned 50 percent or more by one or more blocked persons are also blocked. U.S. persons are generally prohibited from engaging in any transactions with the designated individuals and entities unless authorized by OFAC. Violations of these sanctions can lead to civil or criminal penalties.
This action underscores the U.S. government’s commitment to preventing Iran from advancing its ballistic missile capabilities and holding accountable those who facilitate such efforts. The Treasury Department emphasized that it will continue to employ all available measures to disrupt Iran’s access to the necessary resources for its missile program.
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