US unveils new sanctions over Iran missile program
The State Department said Wednesday they would sanction six entities and six individuals based in Iran and China for supporting Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) ballistic missile development.
'Today's action, which targets this network that has facilitated the procurement of sodium perchlorate and dioctyl sebacate from China to Iran, is taken in support of 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,' State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said in a statement.
Sodium perchlorate is used to produce ammonium perchlorate.
Both ammonium perchlorate and dioctyl sebacate are chemicals usable in solid propellant rocket motors, which are commonly used for ballistic missiles, according to the Treasury Department.
'Iran's aggressive development of missiles and other weapons capabilities imperils the safety of the United States and our partners,' Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said.
'It also destabilizes the Middle East, and violates the global agreements intended to prevent the proliferation of these technologies. To achieve peace through strength, Treasury will continue to take all available measures to deprive Iran's access to resources necessary to advance its missile program,' he continued.
In March, the State Department announced it would offer a $15 million reward for information linked to four Chinese nationals it says have helped the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) procure U.S. military equipment and drone technology.
Officials said individuals would facilitate the sale of U.S. goods to front companies based in China that would send the technology to Iran. Iran would then transport products to the IRGC and its linked companies which Bruce said would soon end.
'The United States will continue to hold accountable those who seek to advance Iran's ballistic missile program, to include its procurement of propellant ingredients used for ballistic missiles,' the State Department spokesperson said in her Wednesday statement.
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Opinion - Despite military purges, China's next war ‘could be imminent' and spread fast
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