WASHINGTON — The United States announced fresh sanctions on Tuesday against 13 individuals and entities, including some based in Russia, China, Hong Kong and Pakistan, saying they helped Iran procure weapons and components.The sanctions are part of the Trump administration’s effort to isolate Iran economically and force it to negotiate an end to the US-Iran war that began in February.Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said: “Treasury will not tolerate any support to the regime and will continue to identify, expose, and isolate Iran’s enablers.”Treasury said the sanctions were aimed at degrading Tehran’s ability to reconstitute its weapons programs, while increasing the costs for those who supported its procurement efforts.The sanctions were undertaken as part of Operation Economic Outcast, a Treasury Department effort to further restrict Iran’s access to global markets.Iran has been locked in a war with the US and Israel since February 28, after the two allies launched a series of deadly attacks targeting Tehran’s leadership and military.But critics have argued that the war has no clear end in sight, despite claims of victory on both sides.Bessent announced Operation Economic Outcast in August, aimed at pressuring Tehran into agreeing to a deal to end the war.Trump claimed the operation would usher in “economic warfare and isolation on an unprecedented scale”, and he warned that any country that participates in trade with Iran would face “tremendous” consequences.As part of the campaign’s initial volley of sanctions, China-based firms and business leaders were targeted.But China remains one of Iran’s largest trading partners, and the Trump administration has faced scrutiny over how forcefully it would confront Beijing over its participation in Iran’s economy.At the time, Bessent defended the administration’s decision to delay certain sanctions by saying, “We’re giving everyone the opportunity to remedy bad behaviour. Why would I want to blow up the global financial system?”Trump recently hosted Chinese President Xi Jinping for his first state visit to the White House in more than a decade, after which Trump touted progress in the trade talks between the two countries.Despite the warming ties, several Chinese firms were among those sanctioned in Tuesday’s announcement.They included the Hong Kong-based company EC Mojo Technology Co Ltd, as well as one of its representatives, Li Fen.EC Mojo had “provided electronic components” to the Iranian military, while Li “attempted to evade sanctions and export controls”, Treasury claimed.All those included in Tuesday’s sanctions were allegedly involved in procuring “weapons and weapons components for Iran’s Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics (MODAFL), the entity responsible for weapons research, production and acquisition for Iran’s armed forces”.Operation Economic Outcast has also sanctioned Iranian economic sectors not directly tied to its military.Recent sanctions on the civilian airline sector have left some passengers stranded, after some Iranian airlines and international carriers suddenly cancelled flights to and from Iran.But experts have questioned how effective the heightened sanctions campaign may ultimately be. Iran has faced heavy US sanctions for years, though on Tuesday its currency fell to a record low, amid war-related pressures.WASHINGTON — The United States announced fresh sanctions on Tuesday against 13 individuals and entities, including some based in Russia, China, Hong Kong and Pakistan, saying they helped Iran procure weapons and components.The sanctions are part of the Trump administration’s effort to isolate Iran economically and force it to negotiate an end to the US-Iran war that began in February.Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said: “Treasury will not tolerate any support to the regime and will continue to identify, expose, and isolate Iran’s enablers.”Treasury said the sanctions were aimed at degrading Tehran’s ability to reconstitute its weapons programs, while increasing the costs for those who supported its procurement efforts.The sanctions were undertaken as part of Operation Economic Outcast, a Treasury Department effort to further restrict Iran’s access to global markets.Iran has been locked in a war with the US and Israel since February 28, after the two allies launched a series of deadly attacks targeting Tehran’s leadership and military.But critics have argued that the war has no clear end in sight, despite claims of victory on both sides.Bessent announced Operation Economic Outcast in August, aimed at pressuring Tehran into agreeing to a deal to end the war.Trump claimed the operation would usher in “economic warfare and isolation on an unprecedented scale”, and he warned that any country that participates in trade with Iran would face “tremendous” consequences.As part of the campaign’s initial volley of sanctions, China-based firms and business leaders were targeted.But China remains one of Iran’s largest trading partners, and the Trump administration has faced scrutiny over how forcefully it would confront Beijing over its participation in Iran’s economy.At the time, Bessent defended the administration’s decision to delay certain sanctions by saying, “We’re giving everyone the opportunity to remedy bad behaviour. Why would I want to blow up the global financial system?”Trump recently hosted Chinese President Xi Jinping for his first state visit to the White House in more than a decade, after which Trump touted progress in the trade talks between the two countries.Despite the warming ties, several Chinese firms were among those sanctioned in Tuesday’s announcement.They included the Hong Kong-based company EC Mojo Technology Co Ltd, as well as one of its representatives, Li Fen.EC Mojo had “provided electronic components” to the Iranian military, while Li “attempted to evade sanctions and export controls”, Treasury claimed.All those included in Tuesday’s sanctions were allegedly involved in procuring “weapons and weapons components for Iran’s Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics (MODAFL), the entity responsible for weapons research, production and acquisition for Iran’s armed forces”.Operation Economic Outcast has also sanctioned Iranian economic sectors not directly tied to its military.Recent sanctions on the civilian airline sector have left some passengers stranded, after some Iranian airlines and international carriers suddenly cancelled flights to and from Iran.But experts have questioned how effective the heightened sanctions campaign may ultimately be. Iran has faced heavy US sanctions for years, though on Tuesday its currency fell to a record low, amid war-related pressures.
US sanctions 13 individuals and entities tied to Iran's weapons procurement
