In a move aimed at curbing the proliferation of Iranian drones and military aircraft, the United States has imposed sanctions on seven individuals and four entities with ties to Iran, China, Russia, and Turkey. This network of entities and individuals played a role in facilitating supplies and financial transactions supporting the Iranian aircraft industrial company HESA (Iran Aircraft Manufacturing Industrial Company), which specializes in the production, procurement, and maintenance of UAVs (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles) and military aircraft.
HESA is notably responsible for manufacturing the Iranian Ababil and Shahed series drones, contributing to Iran’s military capabilities. As part of the sanctions, HESA’s designation on the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List will be updated to include its new alias, Shahin Co., which the company had been using to evade sanctions and export controls.
Brian Nelson, Under Secretary of the Treasury for Counterterrorism and Financial Intelligence, emphasized the broader implications of Iran’s drone proliferation, stating, “Iran’s continued and targeted proliferation of UAVs allows Russia, its proxies in the Middle East, and other destabilizing forces to undermine global stability.”
The individuals and entities subject to U.S. sanctions include:
Entities and Individuals Linked to Russia:
- Delta-Aero (Russia): Provided HESA with propellers and tires for An-140 aircraft, which were adapted for military use in Iran.
- JSC NPP Aerosila (Russia): Conducted ground and flight tests for HESA and contributed to the supply of auxiliary power units for the Iranian company.
- JSC “Star” (Russia): Held contracts with HESA for the overhaul of components of An-140 aircraft.
Individuals Linked to Iran: 4. Mehdi Gogherdchian (Iran): Current Managing Director of HESA and a member of the firm’s Board of Directors.
- Hamidrez Nouri (Iran): Deputy Chairman of the Board of Directors of HESA.
- Hussein Ayini (Iran): HESA director for UAV production and led drone testing in Syria.
Entities and Individuals Linked to China: 7. Shenzhen Jiasibo (China): Supplied HESA with aerospace-grade radar altimeters, GPS and VHF antennas, sensors, and other equipment for potential use in UAVs.
- Su Chunpeng (China): CEO and owner of Shenzhen Jiasibo.
- Dong Wenbo (China): Director and controlling shareholder of the Chinese company Guilin Alpha, which supplied aircraft brake discs to HESA.
Individuals Linked to Turkey: 10. Mehmet Tokdemir and Alaaddin Aykut (Turkey): Facilitated financial transactions worth hundreds of thousands of dollars in support of HESA’s procurement from various suppliers, notably the Chinese company Koto Machinery, a supplier of light aircraft engines for the Iranian Shahed series of UAVs.
These sanctions reflect the U.S. government’s commitment to addressing concerns related to Iran’s aviation industry and its potential impact on regional stability and security.
