US Sanctions People, Companies Involved in Iran-Venezuelan Drone Trade
The Office of Foreign Assets Control this week sanctioned 10 people and entities based in Venezuela and Iran that it said are involved in trading and producing unmanned aerial vehicles.
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The designations target Venezuela-based Empresa Aeronautica Nacional SA and its chair, Jose Jesus Urdaneta Gonzalez, for overseeing assembly of Iran-based Qods Aviation Industries’ (QAI) Mohajer-series UAVs in Venezuela. OFAC said the company has contributed to QAI’s sale of millions of dollars’ worth of Mohajer-6 UAVs to Venezuela, while Urdaneta coordinated with members of the Venezuelan and Iranian armed forces on the production of those drones in Venezuela.
The agency also sanctioned Iran-based Mostafa Rostami Sani for procuring dozens of metric tons of sodium perchlorate for Parchin Chemical Industries, part of Iran’s Defense Industries Organization. OFAC said Rostami Sani is chairman of the board of directors of Iran-based Pardisan Rezvan Shargh International Private Joint Stock Co. It also sanctioned Iran-based Reza Zarepour Taraghi for being the managing director of Pardisan Rezvan Shargh.
Others sanctioned include Iran-based Fanavari Electro Moj Mobin Co. and its managing director, Bahram Rezaei, who's also the majority shareholder and board chairman of Iran-based Kavoshgaran Asman Moj Ghadir Co. (KAMG). OFAC said they have ties to Rayan Fan Kav Andish Co., a sanctioned holding company that has helped make parts for Iran's UAV program. OFAC sanctioned Iran-based Erfan Qaysari for being managing director of KAMG and Mehdi Ghaffari for being vice chairman of KAMG’s board.