US sanctions two men and one firm over bid to supply Iran with air defence systems
The United States has imposed sanctions on two individuals and one entity over allegations of helping Iran obtain man-portable air defence systems (MANPADS). The sanctions were announced on Wednesday.
In a statement, the US State Department said the step would close the pathways Tehran uses to rebuild its arsenal and would raise the risks for third-country intermediaries and suppliers.
Those sanctioned are Mohammad Ali Talibov, chief executive of the Belarus-based Armory Alliance; the Nigeria-based Vanguard Tactical Supply Limited; and Alisher Domullozanov, based in Russia.
The United States alleges that, using fake end-users, they attempted to supply China-based MANPADS to Iran.
The State Department made clear that the United States will keep exposing the networks that supply weapons to Iran's military and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), and will block the provision of resources that sustain their destabilising activities.
