US sanctions Iran-linked network accused of aiding IRGC weapons procurement

Those networks sourced weapons, including man-portable air defense systems known as MANPADS.

By Vered Weiss, World Israel News

The US Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control sanctioned seven individuals and entities across Iran, Russia, Italy and Nigeria for allegedly helping Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps procure weapons and conceal its role in moving materials and personnel around the world.

The Treasury Department said the network relied on foreign aviation and transportation companies, specialized financial channels and travel coordinators to hide the IRGC’s involvement and evade international oversight.

“President Trump has been clear that Iran must denuclearize,” US Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent said. “Treasury will continue to target and disrupt the illicit procurement networks that fund Iran’s weapons programs and war machine.”

The latest designations follow OFAC sanctions imposed on May 8 and June 10, 2026, against procurement networks accused of obtaining weapons for the IRGC and Iran’s Center for Innovation and Technology Cooperation, or CITC.

Those networks sourced weapons, including man-portable air defense systems known as MANPADS.

The new sanctions were imposed under Executive Order 13382, which targets weapons of mass destruction proliferators and those supporting them.

Under the restrictions, property and interests in property belonging to the designated or otherwise blocked individuals and entities must be frozen if they are located in the United States or held or controlled by US persons. The assets must also be reported to OFAC.

Companies and other entities owned directly or indirectly by at least 50% by one or more blocked persons are also subject to the restrictions.

Unless exempt or specifically authorized, US sanctions rules generally bar transactions by US persons, or transactions within or passing through the United States, involving property or interests in property belonging to blocked persons.

The Treasury Department warned that sanctions violations could expose US and foreign persons to civil or criminal penalties. Financial institutions and other parties may also face sanctions risks for certain dealings or activities involving designated or blocked persons.

The sanctions were announced as Middle East tensions remained elevated following Iranian attacks on commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. The measures are part of continued US efforts to restrict Iran’s weapons programs and networks used to conceal procurement and other activities.