OFAC Sanctions Sahara Thunder, Other Firms for Roles in Iran Drone Trade
The Office of Foreign Assets Control is sanctioning 16 entities, eight people, five vessels and one aircraft for their involvement in the Iranian military’s drone trade, the agency announced April 25.
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Among the targets is Sahara Thunder, a front company for Iran’s Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics (MODAFL) that plays a key role in Iran’s design, development, manufacture and sale of thousands of drones, many of which have been transferred to Russia for its war against Ukraine, OFAC said. Sahara Thunder officials Kazem Mirzai Kondori, Hossein Bakshayesh and Hojat Abdulahi Fardx also are being sanctioned, as is another MODAFL subsidiary Etemad Tejarat Misagh.
OFAC is also designating entities in Sahara Thunder’s shipping network, including Zen Shipping & Port India Private Limited, Safe Seas Ship Management FZE, Arsang Safe Trading Co., Asia Marine Crown Agency, Coral Trading EST., Sea Art Ship Management (OPC) Private Limited and Trans Gulf Agency LLC. Also listed are CHEM, CONRAD, DANCY DYNAMIC and K M A, all vessels in which Safe Seas Ship Management FZE has an interest.
OFAC is also sanctioning companies Onden General Trading FZE and Saone Shipping Corporation and the vessel LA PEARL, also known as the ELITE, for their involvement in shipping Iranian commodities for Sepehr Energy Jahan Nama Pars, a commercial arm of Iran’s Armed Forces General Staff.
Other targets include cargo airline Pouya Air and its Ilyushin-76 aircraft EP-PUS; drone producer Bonyan Danesh Shargh Private Company; and several officials and business network members of Bonyan Danesh Shargh, including chief executive officer Abbas Abdi Asjerd, companies Baran Sazan Caspian Anzali Free Zone Company, Sanaye Motorsazi Alvand Private Company and Pishro Sanat Aseman Sharif Private Company, and individuals Seyed Mohsen Vahabzadeh Moghadam, Zahra Abdi Asjerd, Hamid Eidi Ashjerdi and Mohammad Ali Moradipour.
Concurrent with the U.S. action, the U.K. announced it's sanctioning four companies and two people involved in Iran’s drone production network, while Canada announced sanctions on two entities and two people in response to Iran’s “multiple destabilizing activities across the Middle East region and beyond.”
The news came a week after the Biden administration announced a new package of export controls and sanctions against Iran following its drone and missile attack on Israel (see 2404180055).