In a move to hinder Iran’s development of intercontinental ballistic missiles, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) today announced sanctions against six individuals and twelve entities.
These sanctions target those involved in facilitating the Iranian regime’s efforts to source critical materials for its ballistic missile program domestically.
According to a press release from the Treasury Department, the individuals and entities designated support to various sub-organizations within the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) that oversee the domestic production of carbon fiber, a crucial component in manufacturing intercontinental ballistic missiles.
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Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent stated, “The United States cannot allow Iran to develop intercontinental ballistic missiles. The Iranian regime’s relentless and irresponsible pursuit of advanced ballistic missile capabilities, including its efforts to indigenize its production capacity, represents an unacceptable threat to the United States and the stability of the region.” He further emphasized the U.S.’s commitment to “disrupting these schemes and holding accountable those who enable Iran’s military adventurism.”
The IRGC Aerospace Force Research and Self-Sufficiency Jihad Organization (IRGC ASF RSSJO) and the IRGC Research and Self-Sufficiency Jihad Organization (IRGC RSSJO), both previously designated in 2017 for proliferation activities, are central to Iran’s indigenization efforts.
These organizations are involved in supplying carbon fiber and its precursors and procuring necessary production equipment.
Today’s sanctions, which target proliferators of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery, specifically target the Iranian carbon fiber manufacturing network and related actors in China.
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Entities and individuals sanctioned include:
- Advanced Fiber Development Company (AFDCO): An Iran-based company involved in an effort with the IRGC ASF RSSJO to indigenize carbon fiber manufacturing for military programs.
- Mohammad Rezai: Deputy director of the IRGC ASF RSSJO and board member of AFDCO.
- Hamed Dehghan: Deputy chairman of the board of directors of AFDCO and managing director of Pishtazan Kavosh Gostar Boshra LLC (PKGB).
- Sharif Hamrah Science and Technology Researchers (SHSTR): An Iranian technological research company and chairman of the board of directors of AFDCO.
- Pishtazan Kavosh Gostar Boshra LLC (PKGB): An Iran-based company used by Hamed Dehghan to coordinate the procurement of carbon fiber and missile-applicable components for the IRGC ASF RSSJO.
- Sarmand Sazeh Sazan Soroush (Sarmand Sazeh): An Iran-based company where Hamed Dehghan is a board member and the consignee of carbon fiber shipments from China.
- Shanghai Tanchain New Material Technology Co Ltd (Shanghai Tanchain): A PRC-based company that has directly exported proliferation-sensitive items to Iran.
- Narin Sepehr Mobin Isatis (NSMI): An Iran-based company that received large quantities of carbon fiber materials from Shanghai Tanchain for the IRGC ASF.
- Qin Jinhua, Qin Dehui, and Wang Chao: Chinese nationals and executives of Shanghai Tanchain.
- Super Sources Industrial Co Limited: A Hong Kong-based company owned by Wang Chao.
- Reso Trading Shanghai Co Ltd: A PRC-based company majority-owned by Wang Chao that has exported missile-applicable aramid fiber to Iran.
- Wang Piao: The legal representative of Reso Trading.
- Nantong Tanchen High Performance Materials Co Ltd and Nantong Yihong New Materials Co Ltd: PRC-based subsidiaries of Shanghai Tanchain.
- Shanghai Ninestex New Material Technology Co Ltd: A PRC-based company majority-owned by Shanghai Tanchain executive Qin Jinhua.
- Qingdao Premier Technology Co Ltd: A PRC-based company that has sent multiple shipments of carbon fiber fabric to the IRGC.
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 blocked and must be reported to OFAC. U.S. persons are generally prohibited from engaging in any transactions with these blocked individuals and entities. Violations of U.S. sanctions can result in civil or criminal penalties.
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