By Pishtaz | 2024-06-10

The European Union (EU) and United States have imposed new sanctions on the Iranian regime's unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) program and high-ranking Iranian officials for supplying drones to Russia and Middle East groups.

The May 31 move was the EU's first use of its new sanctions authority targeting Iran's support for Russia's war against Ukraine and Iranian support for armed groups in the Middle East and Red Sea region.

The EU sanctions target Iran's Defense Minister Mohammad Reza Ashtiani and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) navy for supplying missiles and drones used against Israel and Ukraine and in the Red Sea.

The United Kingdom and United States blacklisted Ashtiani in April.

The EU sanctioned IRGC Quds Force commander Esmail Qaani for his role in transferring missiles to Hizbullah and the Houthis.

The bloc also blacklisted an armed forces command center -- the Khatam al-Anbia Central Headquarters -- the head of a state aviation firm and the Kavan Electronics Behrad company.

The command center "is at the core of Iran's military forces," the EU said.

It is "therefore involved in transferring UAVs to Russia in support of its war of aggression against Ukraine and to armed groups and entities undermining peace and security in the Middle East and the Red Sea region," it added.

Khatam al-Anbia commander Gholam Ali Rashid and Iranian Aviation Industries Organization (IAIO) head Afshin Khaji Fard are also facing sanctions.

IAIO is a subsidiary of Iran's Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics, which oversees drone manufacturers including Iran Aircraft Manufacturing Industrial Company and Qods Aviation Industries.

Fard oversees the organization's efforts to produce drones and missiles, and "has touted Iran's innovation with respect to its UAV program and its reduced reliance on foreign suppliers," per the US Treasury, which also sanctioned Fard.

Kavan Electronics Behrad, along with its CEO and chairman, were blacklisted for international procurement of components used in the manufacture of drones, and for helping transfer drones to Russia.

The EU sanctions were issued concurrently with the US Treasury's designation of four Iranian entities and one Iranian individual connected with the development, manufacture and proliferation of drones.

The four entities are associated with US-designated Rayan Roshd Afzar company and have procured critical parts for Iran's drone program.

The sanctions reinforce the US commitment "to disrupt Iran's production and proliferation of deadly UAVs," Treasury official Brian Nelson said May 31.

These "continue to be used by Russia against Ukraine and by regional terrorist proxies against our troops," he said.