The U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has announced sanctions against two entities and two individuals involved in the development and procurement of components for sensitive navigational systems used by the Iranian military. These components are crucial for the production and proliferation of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and missiles, which are utilized by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Aerospace Force Self-Sufficiency Jihad Organization (IRGC ASF SSJO) and other Iranian organizations.

In conjunction with this action, the U.S. Department of State has designated one individual and two entities linked to Iran's UAV and missile development efforts. The Treasury's decision was made in coordination with the Department of Commerce and the Department of Justice, which played a role in charging and coordinating the arrest of one individual sanctioned by OFAC.

"Iran continues to try to acquire these critical components covertly to facilitate the production of its ballistic missile and UAV weapon systems," stated Acting Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Bradley T. Smith. "The United States will continue to disrupt Iran’s attempts to provide its deadly weapons to Russia, its terrorist proxies, and other destabilizing actors around the globe."

This move aligns with Executive Order 13382, targeting proliferators of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and their delivery means. The IRGC ASF SSJO was previously designated under this order on July 18, 2017.

Iran-based Sanat Danesh Rahpuyan Aflak Company Ltd (SDRA or SADRA), involved in consulting, designing, manufacturing, and supplying navigation systems for various military applications, is among those designated. From 2022 to 2023, SDRA sold over a thousand SEPEHR navigational systems to IRGC ASF SSJO.

Mohammed Abedininajafabadi, CEO and board member at SDRA, along with Kaveh Merat, Chief Technology Officer at SDRA, have also been designated under E.O. 13382 for their roles within SDRA. Additionally, Switzerland-based Illumove SA is being sanctioned for representing SDRA's interests abroad.

As a result of these sanctions, all property within U.S. jurisdiction belonging to these individuals or entities is blocked. Transactions involving them are generally prohibited unless authorized by OFAC.

OFAC emphasizes that its sanctions aim not only at penalization but also at encouraging positive behavioral changes among sanctioned parties.