The United States announced sanctions on Tuesday against ten individuals and entities located in Iran and Venezuela, accused of participating in weapons trading activities between the two nations.
The sanctions list includes a Venezuelan enterprise—the National Aeronautics and Space Company—which is suspected of facilitating a multi-million dollar drone sale from Iran to Venezuela. The U.S. Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control stated that the sanctions also target three Iranian individuals accused of involvement in procuring chemicals used in the production of ballistic missiles.
In a statement, the U.S. Treasury Department declared, "Iran's continued supply of conventional weapons to Caracas poses a threat to U.S. interests in the Western Hemisphere, including within the United States itself. America will utilize all available means to halt such arms trade."
These sanctions were announced one day after U.S. President Donald Trump threatened that the United States would "hit Iran hard" if it attempted to expand its ballistic missile arsenal or rebuild its nuclear weapons program.
Earlier this year, multiple Iranian military facilities and weapons programs were damaged in attacks attributed to Israel and the United States.
On Monday, before meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, Trump stated that the U.S. would support Israeli strikes against Iran if Tehran resumed its military buildup.
On Tuesday, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian posted on the social platform X, stating, "The Islamic Republic of Iran will deliver a firm and regrettable response to any hegemonic act of aggression."
Recently, the Trump administration has also taken a hardline stance against Venezuela, including targeting vessels suspected of drug trafficking, ordering a comprehensive blockade of sanctioned Venezuelan crude oil tankers entering or leaving the country, and designating the Venezuelan government as a "foreign terrorist organization."
Earlier this month, the Trump administration claimed that the U.S. had seized an oil tanker near the Venezuelan coast. U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi stated that the seized tanker had been under U.S. sanctions for years and was routinely involved in transporting crude oil between Iran and Venezuela.
Furthermore, during Monday's meeting with Netanyahu, Trump confirmed that the United States had conducted a strike on a facility within Venezuela suspected of being used for drug loading. Reports indicated that this strike was carried out by the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency earlier this month.
The sanctions announced on Tuesday mark another instance, following actions in October and November of this year, where the U.S. has targeted individuals and entities associated with Iranian weapons networks.
In the statement, John K. Hurley, Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, said, "The Treasury Department is holding Iran and Venezuela accountable for their reckless and aggressive proliferation of deadly weapons worldwide."
He further noted, "We will continue to act swiftly to cut off those supporting Iran's military-industrial complex from accessing the U.S. financial system."
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