President Donald Trump is keeping his promise to disrupt the Iranian regime’s ability to destabilize the region. The Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control, or OFAC, has designated five entities and one individual based in Iran, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and China for their procurement of technology in support of OFAC-designated Iran Aircraft Manufacturing Industrial Company, or HESA.
HESA is a state-owned subsidiary of Iran’s Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics, or MODAFL, that manufactures Iran’s military aircraft and Ababil‑series unmanned aerial vehicles, or UAVs, which have been employed by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, or IRGC.
“Iran continues to pursue the development of asymmetric weapons capabilities, including unmanned aerial vehicles, to carry out attacks on the United States, our servicemembers and our partners and allies in the region,” said Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence John Hurley.
Under Javad Alizadeh Hoshyar’s direction and management as Chief Executive Officer, Iran-based Control Afzar procured computer numerical control, or CNC, machines, and equipment for HESA. CNC machines are used in high‑end aerospace and defense manufacturing to create precise and durable components for commercial and military aircraft.
Control Afzar used Hong Kong-based Clifton Trading as an alternative intermediary for procurements in the interest of HESA, with the intention of obscuring the involvement of Control Afzar. Control Afzar also used Taiwan-based Mecatron and Joemars Machinery to ship CNC machines and equipment to Iran and knowingly circumvent sanctions and export controls. Joemars Machinery established China‑based Changzhou Joemars as a subsidiary.
Control Afzar is being designated for having provided, or attempted to provide, financial, material, technological or other support for, or goods or services in support of, HESA.
Alizadeh is being designated for being owned or controlled by or acting or purporting to act for or on behalf of Control Afzar.
Clifton Trading, Mecatron, and Joemars Machinery are being designated for having provided, or attempted to provide, financial, material, technological or other support for, or goods or services in support of, Control Afzar.
Changzhou Joemars is being designated for being owned or controlled by or acting or purporting to act for or on behalf of Joemars Machinery.
Violations of U.S. sanctions may result in the imposition of civil or criminal penalties on U.S. and foreign persons. OFAC may impose civil penalties for sanctions violations on a strict liability basis. In addition, financial institutions and other persons may risk exposure to sanctions for engaging in certain transactions or activities with designated or otherwise blocked persons.
“We will continue to put America first,” said Under Secretary John Hurley, “by disrupting Tehran’s ability to further its destabilizing agenda that undermines the stability of the region and threatens the safety of the American people.”
US Sanctions Network Supporting Iran's Military UAV Program
- VOA Policy
The Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control has designated five entities and one individual for their procurement of technology in support of Iran Aircraft Manufacturing Industrial Company.
