The United States government ramped up its pressure campaign against Tehran on Friday, slapping fresh sanctions on a sprawling network of 21 entities and 13 individuals accused of funneling weapons and high-tech support to the Iranian military.
The move, coordinated by both the State and Treasury Departments, targets players across China, Belarus, the United Arab Emirates, and Eastern Europe for their roles in bolstering Iran’s drone and missile programs.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed the sanctions late Friday, specifically calling out several Chinese firms for allegedly providing the satellite imagery used by Iran to coordinate strikes against American forces stationed in the Middle East.
According to Rubio, the crackdown targets those providing the raw materials and technology necessary for Iran’s ballistic missile and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) infrastructure.
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“Today’s action holds China-based entities accountable for their support to Iran,” Rubio stated, adding that the U.S. will use every tool at its disposal to hit third-country actors aiding Iran’s defense industrial base.
Simultaneously, the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) blacklisted ten more individuals and companies for helping Iran secure parts for its Shahed-series drones—the same UAVs that have become a focal point of regional and global conflict. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent characterized the move as part of a broader “Economic Fury” campaign.
“While the surviving IRGC leaders are trapped like rats in a sinking ship, the Treasury Department is unrelenting,” Bessent said.
He emphasized that under President Trump’s leadership, the administration would continue to target any foreign entity providing weapons used against U.S. troops
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