By Pishtaz | 2024-04-25

The United States and its allies are ramping up sanctions targeting Tehran's drone program following Iran's unprecedented attack on Israel earlier this month.

The US Treasury Department on April 18 announced sanctions against 16 individuals and two entities enabling Iran's unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) production, including engine types that power Iran's Shahed drones, which were used in the April 13 attack.

Those targeted work on behalf of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Quds Force (IRGC-QF), its UAV production arm, Kimia Part Sivan Company (KIPAS), and other Iranian manufacturers of UAVs and UAV engines.

The US sanctions target executives of Iran-based UAV engine manufacturer, Oje Parvaz Mado Nafar Company which produces, through reverse engineering, the engines used in Shahed-131 and Shahed-136 UAVs.

Iran-based Aseman Pishraneh Co. Ltd services the small aircraft engine models used in several types of Iranian UAVs, including the Shahed-129 and Mohajer-6.

The IRGC-QF's Department 8000 is tasked with developing drones and providing UAVs and UAV-related training to proxies such as the Houthis in Yemen and Iranian-aligned militias in Iraq and Syria, the Treasury said.

Iranian-manufactured UAVs have been provided to and used by Iran-backed militias across the Middle East, resulting in attacks on US service members, allied forces and maritime vessels in the Red Sea.

KIPAS is an Iran-based firm that has worked with the IRGC-QF to improve its drone program. KIPAS has helped procure UAV components, conducted testing and provided technical assistance to the IRGC-QF, the Treasury said.

The United Kingdom imposed concurrent sanctions targeting several Iranian military organizations, individuals and entities involved in Iran's UAV and ballistic missile industries.

The US sanctions, "in coordination with the United Kingdom and in consultation with partners and allies," aim to "degrade and disrupt key aspects of Iran's malign activity, including its UAV program and the revenue the regime generates to support its terrorism," said US Treasury Secretary Janet L. Yellen.

"We will continue to deploy our sanctions authority to counter Iran with further actions in the days and weeks ahead," she said.

"Over the last three years, we have targeted over 600 individuals and entities connected to Iran's terrorist activity, its human rights abuses, and its financing of Hamas, the Houthis, Hizbullah and Iraqi militia groups."

"Our actions make it harder and costlier at every turn for Iran to continue its destabilizing behavior," Yellen added.

European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell on April 22 said the bloc also agreed in principle to expand its existing sanctions against Iran's drone program to cover missiles and their potential transfer to Iran's Middle East allies or to Russia.