US imposes sanctions on six entities and six individuals in Iran and China
Washington, DC: Six organizations and six people in China and Iran have been sanctioned by the United States for their role in obtaining ingredients for ballistic missile propellant for Iran‘s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
The sanctions target a network that has helped move important materials from China to Iran, such as dioctyl sebacate and sodium perchlorate.
“The United States is sanctioning six entities and six individuals based in Iran and China for their role in a network that procured ballistic missile propellant ingredients on behalf of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC),” the US Department of State said in a press release on Tuesday.
The press release continued, “Today’s action, which targets this network that has facilitated the procurement of sodium perchlorate and dioctyl sebacate from China to Iran, is aimed at supporting the United States’ maximum pressure campaign to curtail Iran’s ballistic missile program and disrupt the activities of the IRGC, as outlined in the President’s National Security Presidential Memorandum 2 of February 4, 2025.”
The US will continue to hold responsible anyone who attempts to enhance Iran’s ballistic missile program, including its acquisition of propellant ingredients for ballistic missiles, the statement said.
The Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR), a multilateral political agreement among governments that aims to restrict the proliferation of missiles and missile technology, regulates the production of ammonium perchlorate from sodium perchlorate, according to the US Department of Treasury. Solid propellant rocket motors, commonly found in ballistic missiles, may utilize both dioctyl sebacate and ammonium perchlorate as compounds.
Iran’s missile program is a serious danger to American safety and security, US Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent said.
“The safety of the United States and our allies is at risk due to Iran’s aggressive development of missiles and other military capabilities. In addition, it breaches international accords meant to stop the spread of these technologies and destabilizes the Middle East. Treasury will keep doing all it can to prevent Iran from obtaining the resources it needs to develop its missile program as part of its strategy to maintain regional stability,” Bessent said.
