US sanctions China and Iran over Tehran's UAV program as new president Masoud Pezeshkian takes office

The United States on Tuesday (July 30) imposed sanctions on five individuals and seven companies from China and Iran for allegedly supporting Tehran’s missile and drone programs.

According to a statement from the US Treasury Department, these sanctions target people and businesses in China, Hong Kong, and Iran that were involved in providing key components to entities affiliated with Iran’s Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics (MODAFL).

The Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control stated that those affected by the sanctions acquired "various components, including accelerometers and gyroscopes, which are crucial for Iran’s ballistic missile and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) programs."

The Treasury also claimed that one of the sanctioned Iranian companies, Electro Optic Sairan Industries, played a role in developing the Shahed-series UAVs at the Shahed Aviation Industries Research Center. These UAVs, according to the US government agency, are "being used by Russian forces in Ukraine."

Treasury Undersecretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Brian Nelson said, "Today's action exposes additional key front companies and trusted agents through which Iran has sought to acquire these components."

In 2007, the US labelled the Iranian Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics as a threat due to its involvement with weapons of mass destruction and their delivery systems. This ministry is also said to belinked to Iran's ballistic missile program.

“Iran’s reckless proliferation of its ballistic missiles and UAVs risk further instability and endangers civilian lives. The United States will continue to impose costs on those that facilitate Iran’s ability to produce these deadly weapons,”Nelson said.

Masoud Pezeshkian sworn in as Iran's president

The announcement was made on the same day as Iranian politicianMasoud Pezeshkian was sworn in as the country's president.

Pezeshkian, a moderate reformist and former heart surgeon, took office after winning a special election following the death of the previous president, Ebrahim Raisi, in May.

On Tuesday, Pezeshkian was officially sworn in as Iran's ninth president during a ceremony that saw attendance from international figures, including representatives from groups like Hamas, Hezbollah, Islamic Jihad, and the Houthis.

Although Pezeshkian is seen as a more moderate leader, USSecretary of State Antony Blinken noted in a fireside chat on July 19 that “the supreme leader continues to call the shots.”

(With inputs from agencies)