U.S. announces sanctions over alleged Iran-Venezuela weapon trade

Alsharq Tribune-Ahmed Essam 

The U.S. administration on Tuesday announced sanctions against 10 entities and individuals based in Iran and Venezuela, accusing Tehran of supplying conventional weapons to Caracas and threatening U.S. interests across the Western Hemisphere, including the U.S. homeland.

In separate statements, the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of the Treasury said a Venezuelan company targeted by the sanctions had been involved in the sale of millions of dollars' worth of Iranian-designed combat unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV).

Other sanctioned entities and individuals were accused of supporting procurement networks linked to Iran's drone and ballistic missile programs, said the statements.

"The entities and individuals designated today demonstrate Iran is actively proliferating its combat UAVs and continues to procure missile-related items in violation of UN restrictions," State Department Principal Deputy Spokesperson Tommy Pigott said.

He added that the Trump administration will take action to curb Iran's ballistic missile program, block its development of other conventional and asymmetric weapons, and prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.

"We will continue to take swift action to deprive those who enable Iran's military-industrial complex access to the U.S. financial system," said Treasury Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence John K. Hurley.

The U.S. Treasury Department also said that Iran's UAV and missile programs threaten U.S. and allied personnel in the Middle East and disrupt commercial shipping in the Red Sea.

The sanctions came one day after U.S. President Donald Trump, when meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Florida, warned that the United States would support renewed strikes if Iran tries to rebuild its ballistic missile program.

In response to Trump's remarks, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Tuesday warned on X that his country would respond harshly to any act of aggression.

"The Islamic Republic of Iran's response to any cruel aggression would be harsh and regret-inducing," Pezeshkian said.

Tensions between Iran and the United States have escalated after a series of strikes in June. On June 13, Israel launched airstrikes on several locations in Iran, including nuclear and military sites, killing senior commanders, nuclear scientists and civilians. On June 22, U.S. forces bombed Iran's nuclear facilities at Natanz, Fordow and Isfahan.

Relations between the United States and Venezuela have also remained strained, with Caracas repeatedly accusing Washington of pursuing regime change and expanding its military presence in the region under what the United States calls an anti-narco-terrorism campaign.