WASHINGTON , -- Friday's US sanctions on Iran were renewed as President Joe Biden meets with European leaders to discuss possible resumption in nuclear talks.
The Treasury Department announced new sanctions against two members of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps as well as two affiliate companies, for supplying drones and other material to insurgent groups and in Yemen, Lebanon, and Yemen. This was in response to Tigray forces fighting in Iraq for nearly a year.
The sanctions do not relate to Iran’s atomic program. However, the Biden administration stated that it is interested in a possible agreement to revive 2015's long-term nuclear deal. This would include Iranian support for such groups as well as curtail its ballistic missile production.
Iran has not yet committed to a date for returning to the nuclear negotiations in Vienna, but it has indicated that it will do so next Tuesday with a target of late November to resume the negotiations. Biden will meet with the leaders of Britain and France on Saturday to discuss strategy regarding Iran.
In June, the Vienna negotiations were halted ahead of Iran’s election which brought Ebrahim Raisi, a hardliner, to power. The talks do not directly concern the U.S., as President Donald Trump pulled out of the nuclear deal in 2018. They have remained stalled despite both Washington and Tehran stating their intention to return to compliance.
Friday's sanctions will block assets in U.S. jurisdictions that are targeted, prohibit Americans from transacting with them, and may, perhaps, even more, subject foreign firms and individuals who do business with them or their clients to possible penalties.
Brig. Brig. Saeed Aghajani, and Brig. According to Treasury, Gen. Abdollah Vielabi and Gen. Saeed Aghajani oversee drone activities of the Guard, including support for unmanned aircraft vehicle (or UAV) attacks by proxies against commercial vessels, Saudi oil facilities, and U.S. and other allied interests throughout Middle East.
"Iran's proliferation UAVs in the region is a threat to international stability and peace," Treasury stated. Treasury stated in a statement that Iran and its proxy militants used UAVs against U.S. forces and our partners and international shipping. "Treasury will continue holding Iran responsible for its irresponsible, violent acts."
Treasury stated that the two companies, the Kimia Part Sivan Co. (and the Oje Parvaz Mado Nafar Co.) were authorized to supply engines and technical support for the drone programs.
