Reuters-US imposes sanctions on Iranian drone procurement network
September 27, 2023 3 min 484 words
这则报道揭示了美国对伊朗购买无人机零部件的网络实施制裁，其中包括中国、土耳其、阿联酋和伊朗的个人和实体。美国指责伊朗为俄罗斯提供武器，用于乌克兰冲突，特别是攻击无人机。这一制裁措施涉及到网络帮助伊朗采购敏感部件的机构和人员，其中包括帮助伊朗采购无人机所需的伺服电机等零部件。据美国财政部称，这个网络协助伊朗伊斯兰革命卫队采购了用于伊朗的 Shahed-136 无人机的伺服电机，最近在乌克兰一架俄罗斯操作的 Shahed-136 无人机残骸中发现了这种电机。 这一报道突显了伊朗无人机技术在乌克兰冲突中的关键角色，同时也凸显了美国对俄罗斯的制裁政策。然而，伊朗否认向俄罗斯提供用于乌克兰的无人机。此外，报道还指出了从土耳其等地的供应渠道仍然存在，这使得美国对化学品、微芯片等产品的出口受到监控。美国还表示，阿联酋在制裁方面的执行存在问题。 总的来说，这一报道反映了国际政治中的复杂局势，显示了制裁作为外交工具的复杂性和限制性。它还强调了国际社会在防止武器扩散和维护地区安全方面面临的挑战，需要更多的合作和透明度来解决这些问题。
The United States on Wednesday placed sanctions on entities and people based in China, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates and Iran for aiding the Iranian attack drone program, which Washington accuses of supplying such weapons to Russia for use in Ukraine.
The U.S. Treasury said it put sanctions on five entities and two people who were part of a network helping procure sensitive parts - including servomotors, which help control position and speed - for Iran's unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) program.
The network facilitated shipments and financial transactions for the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps' procurement of such motors used in Iran's Shahed-136 drones, it said, adding that a motor procured by the network was found recently in the remains of a Russia-operated Shahed-136 drone shot down in Ukraine.
"Iranian-made UAVs continue to be a key tool for Russia in its attacks in Ukraine, including those that terrorize Ukrainian citizens and attack its critical infrastructure," Treasury Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Brian Nelson said in a statement.
Iran says it has not provided Russia with drones for use in Ukraine.
The United States and its allies imposed extensive sanctions on Russia after its February 2022 invasion of Ukraine. But supply channels from Black Sea neighbor Turkey and other trading hubs have remained open, prompting Washington to issue repeated warnings about the export of chemicals, microchips and other products that can be used in Moscow's war effort.
Washington has also previously said there is "poor sanctions compliance" in the United Arab Emirates.
The Treasury named the sanctions targets as Iran-based Pishgam Electronic Safeh Company (PESC), which it said had procured thousands of servomotors with one-way attack drone uses, and its chief executive Hamid Reza Janghorbani.
The Treasury targeted Hong Kong-based Hongkong Himark Electron Model Limited (Hongkong Himark), which it said had fulfilled servomotor orders for PESC in Iran, and China-based Hongkong Himark official Fan Yang.
In addition, the Treasury targeted two Turkey-based firms with long names - Dal Enerji Madencilik Turizm Sanayi Ve Ticaret Anonim Sirketi and Anka Port Ic Ve Dis Ticaret INSAAT Lojistik Sanayi Limited Sirketi - accusing them of facilitating transactions in support of PESC's servomotor procurement from Hongkong Himark.
The Treasury also put sanctions on UAE-based Farhad Ghaedi Goods Wholesalers LLC, accusing it of facilitating the shipment of servomotors via Dubai for delivery to PESC in Iran.
Among the sanctions' consequences, all property of the targets that fall under U.S. jurisdiction must be blocked and reported to the Treasury.