WASHINGTON, — April 22, 2026 : The U.S. Department of the Treasury has imposed sanctions on 14 individuals, entities, and aircraft linked to procurement and transport networks supporting Iran’s ballistic missile and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) programs, according to an announcement issued on April 21 by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC).
The measures form part of the U.S. government’s “Economic Fury” campaign, a sanctions initiative aimed at disrupting financial and logistical networks associated with Iran’s military-industrial activities. The designations target actors operating across Iran, Türkiye, and the United Arab Emirates, including procurement agents, trading firms, and aviation assets.
Procurement Networks Supporting Shahed UAV Program
OFAC designated three individuals for their roles in supporting Iran-based Pishgam Electronic Safeh Company (PESC), a firm previously sanctioned in September 2023 for its involvement in UAV component procurement. The company, led by chief executive Hamid Reza Janghorbani, has sourced thousands of servomotors used in one-way attack drones, including systems recovered from downed Shahed-136 UAVs operated by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Aerospace Force Self Sufficiency Jihad Organization.
The newly sanctioned individuals include Kamal Sabah Balkhkanlu, a Tehran-based currency exchanger who facilitated payments for PESC’s procurement activities using third-country bank accounts; Mohammad Vahidi, who received routed shipments of materials and equipment at a Dubai address; and Danial Khalili, who acted as an agent responsible for receiving and delivering procured items.
Ballistic Missile Supply Chain Designations
The Treasury also imposed sanctions on the Türkiye-based Emti Fiber Textile Import Export Trade Limited Company for completing hundreds of shipments of cotton linters to Iran-based Pardisan Rezvan Shargh International Private Joint Stock Company. Cotton linters are processed into nitrocellulose, a key material used to enhance the performance of solid propellant rocket motors commonly employed in ballistic missile systems.
Pardisan Rezvan Shargh had previously been sanctioned in December 2025. Additional designations include Iran-based Adak Pargas Pars Trading Company, which had been sanctioned earlier in February 2026, along with two of its executives: chairman Hamidreza Roknifard and vice chairman Mostafa Roknifard.
Actions Targeting Mahan Air Network
OFAC expanded sanctions related to Mahan Air, an Iranian airline previously designated for transporting weapons, equipment, and financial support on behalf of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). The April 21 action targets associated entities and individuals involved in maintaining the airline’s operational and logistical network.
Those designated include Sepehr Kaveh Kish, identified as an owner or controller of Mahan Air; Gholam Abbas Ataei Aghdam and Jamshid Hosseinzadeh, described as leaders or officials of Sepehr Kaveh Kish; and Mohammad Hossein Mahdian. Entities designated include Saman Air Services and Chabok FZCO, the latter based in the United Arab Emirates and involved in procurement activities linked to aviation components.
In addition, two Boeing 777 aircraft operated by Mahan Air were identified as blocked property under U.S. jurisdiction.
Strategic Context and Iran’s Military Production Efforts
U.S. officials assess that Iran is attempting to reconstitute its production capacity for both ballistic missiles and UAVs following recent regional hostilities. According to reporting cited by Militarnyi, Iran retains approximately 40 percent of its pre-war stockpile of strike drones. Officials have also indicated that efforts are underway to recover missiles buried under debris following strikes on weapons depots and storage facilities.
Iran has continued to rely on Shahed-series one-way attack UAVs in regional operations, including strikes targeting energy infrastructure.
Legal Authorities and Financial Restrictions
The sanctions were issued pursuant to Executive Order 13382, which targets proliferators of weapons of mass destruction and their supporters, and Executive Order 13224, as amended, which addresses terrorist organizations and affiliated networks. The measures are part of broader nonproliferation efforts following the reimposition of United Nations sanctions on Iran in September 2025.
Under the designations, any assets belonging to the sanctioned individuals and entities that fall within U.S. jurisdiction are blocked. U.S. persons are prohibited from engaging in transactions with them. Foreign financial institutions that knowingly facilitate significant transactions involving the designated parties may also face secondary sanctions, including restrictions on access to the U.S. financial system.
Statement from Treasury Secretary
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated that the sanctions are intended to hold Iran accountable for activities affecting regional security and global energy markets. He said the Treasury Department will continue to target financial networks supporting Iran’s missile and drone programs as part of the Economic Fury campaign.
The April 21 designations represent the latest action in a series of U.S. measures aimed at constraining Iran’s procurement channels for military technologies and dual-use materials.
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