By Pishtaz | 2025-04-15

Five Iranian organizations and one individual at the heart of Tehran's nuclear program infrastructure have been hit with sanctions as part of a US "maximum pressure" campaign designed to curb the Iranian regime's nuclear ambitions.

The April 9 measures center on two key entities: the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) and its subsidiary, the Iran Centrifuge Technology Company (TESA), which manufactures centrifuges essential for uranium enrichment.

These organizations have been operating through a network of smaller companies that develop and acquire sensitive nuclear-related technology, all now under US scrutiny.

"The Iranian regime's reckless pursuit of nuclear weapons remains a grave threat to the United States and a menace to regional stability and global security," US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said.

The sanctions target Atbin Ista Technical and Engineering Company (AIT), which has been quietly facilitating TESA's acquisition of crucial components from foreign suppliers.

AIT chairman and managing director Majid Mosallat was censured for his central role in orchestrating sensitive technological purchases.

Pegah Aluminum Arak Company, which manufactures essential aluminum products for TESA's operations, was a key target.

As the primary overseer of Iran's nuclear technology development, AEOI controls an extensive network of companies advancing its nuclear program.

Among them is Azarab Industries Co., a contractor that produces equipment for nuclear power plants that is now facing sanctions.

Also facing censure are Thorium Power Company, created by AEOI in July 2023 to develop alternative nuclear fuel technologies, and Pars Reactors Construction and Development Company, which manages several nuclear reactor projects.

Strategic pressure

The sanctions, announced ahead of a first round of Iran-US nuclear talks in Muscat on March 13, demonstrate Washington's intent to prevent Tehran from advancing what Bessent termed "a broader destabilizing agenda."

While Tehran claims its nuclear program serves peaceful energy purposes, Iran currently faces its most severe energy crisis in decades, with frequent power outages and widespread disruptions to natural gas supplies.

The regime's prioritization of political and military interests over efficient infrastructure management has severely exacerbated these energy challenges.

Iran was forced to halt electricity exports in mid-2024 due to a nationwide power deficit of around 14,000 to 18,000 megawatts or 20 to 25% of the national demand, according to Iran International.

The regime's persistent focus on nuclear and military advancements, including funding for ballistic missile development and support for proxies like Hizbullah and the Houthis, further underscores its misplaced priorities.

As the economy sinks, Tehran continues to funnel significant resources to its proxies, using them as instruments of regional influence and asymmetric warfare, security analysts told Pishtaz.

The prioritization of external military capabilities over domestic needs demonstrates how the regime employs external aggression as tool for maintaining internal control, they said.