US sanctions Iranian, Venezuelan groups linked to arms trade

THE WE announced sanctions on Tuesday against a group of 10 people and entities based in Iran And Venezuela which would be linked to the arms trade between the two countries.

Among those targeted is a Venezuelan company, Empresa Aeronautica Nacional, allegedly linked to millions of dollars in Iranian drone sales to Venezuela. The sanctions also target three individuals based in Iran who allegedly participated in an effort to obtain chemicals used for ballistic missiles, according to the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control.

“Iran’s continued supply of conventional weapons to Caracas poses a threat to U.S. interests in the Western Hemisphere, including at home, and the United States will use all available measures to prevent this trade,” the Treasury Department said in a statement. statement.

The sanctions come a day after the president Donald Trump threatened with “Strike Hell” leave Iran if the country seeks to strengthen its ballistic missile reserves or restore its nuclear weapons program.

Iranian military sites and weapons programs were damaged earlier this year by attacks carried out by Israel and the United States

Trump, before a meeting with the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Monday, at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, also said he would support Israeli strikes against Iran in the event of rearmament.

“The response of the Islamic Republic of Iran to any oppressive aggression will be harsh and regrettable,” Iranian President Massoud Pezeshkian said. posted on Tuesday.

Trump has also recently taken an aggressive stance toward Venezuela, targeting suspected drug boats, ordering a complete blockade of sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving the country and designating the country’s government as a “foreign terrorist organization.”

Earlier this month, the Trump administration said the U.S. seized an oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela. The seized tanker had been sanctioned by the United States for years and was carrying oil from Iran and Venezuela, according to a message by Attorney General Pam Bondi.

And during his Monday meeting with Netanyahu, Trump also confirmed an attack on a suspected drug loading facility on Venezuelan soil. CNN reported that the attack was carried out earlier this month by the CIA.

Tuesday’s sanctions follow similar efforts in October And November to target individuals and entities operating or involved in Iranian weapons networks.

“Treasury holds Iran and Venezuela accountable for their aggressive and reckless proliferation of deadly weapons around the world,” John K. Hurley, Treasury Undersecretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, said in a statement.

“We will continue to take swift action to deny those who enable Iran’s military-industrial complex access to the U.S. financial system,” he said.