The United States has imposed fresh sanctions on six individuals and entities in China, India, Russia and Iran, accusing them of providing goods, logistics and commercial support to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and the private Iranian airline Mahan Air. The U.S. Treasury Department said the measures are aimed at disrupting the IRGC’s international support network and curbing assistance to Mahan Air.
The sanctions were announced on Friday by the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). The United States has designated the IRGC as a terrorist organization and has long accused Mahan Air of transporting weapons, military equipment and personnel on behalf of Iran.
Jay Hilotin, a senior U.S. Treasury official, said the latest measures are intended to dismantle Mahan Air’s international support network and weaken supply chains allegedly used by the IRGC.
Those sanctioned include several Shanghai-based companies in China, a Russian cargo airline, and several general sales agents associated with Mahan Air. According to U.S. authorities, the designated individuals and entities played a significant role in facilitating the international operations of the Iranian organizations.
In a statement, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said that providing financial or logistical support to the IRGC or Mahan Air amounts to assisting an organization that the United States considers to be involved in terrorism. He added that Washington will continue its policy of isolating such supporters from the U.S. financial system.
Under the sanctions, any assets of the designated individuals and entities within U.S. jurisdiction will be frozen, while U.S. citizens and businesses are prohibited from engaging in financial or commercial transactions with them. Foreign banks and companies that continue to conduct business with the sanctioned parties could also face secondary U.S. sanctions.
U.S. officials also said that, alongside economic pressure, military and strategic pressure on Iran remains in place, although no further details were provided.
Mahan Air has consistently maintained that it is a civilian airline. However, the United States alleges that the carrier has assisted the IRGC’s Quds Force by transporting personnel and military equipment to conflict zones. The airline has repeatedly rejected those allegations, describing them as politically motivated.
Analysts say the latest sanctions reflect the continuation of the Trump administration’s “maximum economic pressure” policy toward Iran. There was no immediate response from the Iranian government or the sanctioned individuals and entities.
Western governments have long alleged that the IRGC has built an extensive business network spanning construction, oil and gas, infrastructure, banking and real estate, in addition to military activities. The United States and its allies have also accused the organization of generating revenue through shadow oil trade, shell companies, smuggling operations and cryptocurrency transactions to evade international sanctions.
Source: Gulf News