The United States has announced sanctions against entities and individuals primarily based in China and Hong Kong for their involvement in supporting Iran's ballistic missile program. This decision highlights the reliance of Iran on China for conducting activities that are seen as destabilizing the Middle East.
According to a statement, these entities and individuals are involved in aiding Iran's efforts to produce carbon fiber domestically for use in its ballistic missile program. They provide support by supplying carbon fiber, its precursors, and manufacturing equipment to various sub-organizations of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). These include the U.S.-designated IRGC Aerospace Force Research and Self Sufficiency Jihad Organization (IRGC ASF RSSJO) and IRGC Research and Self Sufficiency Jehad Organization (IRGC RSSJO).
This action is part of President Trump's National Security Presidential Memorandum-2, aimed at applying maximum pressure to limit Iran's ballistic missile program. It seeks to disrupt resources necessary for the IRGC and its proxies to continue their activities that threaten regional stability.
The U.S. Department of Treasury implemented this measure under Executive Order 13382, which targets proliferators of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and their supporters. The United States intends to use all available means, including sanctions on third-country entities, to uncover and obstruct Iran’s attempts to acquire equipment supporting its ballistic missile endeavors.
