US Sanctions 11 Entities and 3 Individuals Across Iran, China, Belarus, and UAE for Supporting Iran's Weapons Programs

The U.S. Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control sanctioned 11 entities and 3 individuals on May 9, 2026, targeting operations across Iran, China, Belarus, and the United Arab Emirates for facilitating Iran's weapons programs. The sanctions represent the sixth round of nonproliferation designations supporting the September 27, 2025 reimposition of UN sanctions on Iran. Targeted entities supplied materials for Shahed-136 UAVs and ballistic missiles.

Treasury sanctions announcement

• ▪The Office of Foreign Assets Control took action against Pishgam Electronic Safeh Company in April 2026.
• ▪The U.S. Department of State designated four entities connected to the conventional arms activities of Iran concurrently with the Treasury Department's May 9, 2026 sanctions.
• ▪The May 9, 2026 Treasury Department sanctions represent the sixth round of nonproliferation designations in support of the September 27, 2025 reimposition of United Nations sanctions on Iran.
• ▪The U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control sanctioned 11 entities and 3 individuals on May 9, 2026.
• ▪The U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control targeted entities based across Iran, China, Belarus, and the United Arab Emirates for supporting Iran's weapons programs.

Procurement network intermediaries

• ▪Belarussian national Mohammed Ali Tolibov is the chief executive officer of Armory Alliance LLC and a long-standing arms procurement facilitator for Iran in Belarus.
• ▪Hong Kong-based HK Hesin Industry Co., Ltd. acted as an intermediary in procurements for the Center for Progress and Development of Iran to obfuscate the Iranian end-user.
• ▪Hong Kong-based Mustad Limited facilitated financial transactions in furtherance of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' procurement of millions of dollars' worth of weapons.
• ▪Belarus-based Iranian national Mohammadmahdi Maleki is an employee of Armory Alliance LLC who contributed to procurements for the Center for Progress and Development of Iran.

UAV materials supply chain

• ▪China-based Hitex Insulation Ningbo Company Limited supplied millions of dollars' worth of carbon fiber, honeycomb fabric, and other raw aerospace-grade materials to Pishgam Electronic Safeh Company.
• ▪Pishgam Electronic Safeh Company procured materials for Iran's IRGC Aerospace Force Self Sufficiency Jihad Organization.
• ▪Iran-based Pishgam Electronic Safeh Company procured thousands of servomotors with one-way attack UAV applications that have been recovered in downed Shahed-136 UAVs.
• ▪Chinese national Li Genping is the legal representative of Hitex Insulation Ningbo Company Limited and manages the company's sales, purchasing, and financial operations.

Weapons acquisition facilitation

• ▪The Center for Innovation and Technology Cooperation is the former name of the Center for Progress and Development of Iran, which coordinates Iranian technology acquisition efforts.
• ▪The U.S. Department of State designated the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps pursuant to Executive Order 13382 in October 2007 in connection with Iran's ballistic missile program.
• ▪The U.S. Department of State designated the Center for Innovation and Technology Cooperation pursuant to Executive Order 13382 in June 2012.
• ▪The Center for Innovation and Technology Cooperation sought to purchase man-portable air-defensive systems from China.

Sanctions enforcement mechanisms

• ▪All property and interests in property of persons designated on May 9, 2026 that are in the United States or in the possession or control of U.S. persons are blocked and must be reported to the Office of Foreign Assets Control.
• ▪The Office of Foreign Assets Control may impose civil penalties for sanctions violations on a strict liability basis.
• ▪The United Nations reimposed sanctions on Iran on September 27, 2025 as a direct result of Iran's significant non-performance of its nuclear commitments.

3 sources