The US has imposed fresh sanctions on multiple entities and individuals from Iran, Malaysia, Hong Kong, and Indonesia. According to the Treasury Department, these entities and individuals are believed to be supporting the production of Iranian drones.
The Biden administration has disclosed that the international network responsible for this activity is led by Hossein Hatefi Ardakani, a 38-year-old Iranian citizen, as per to Voice of America.
US Sanctions Ardakani for Illicit Drone Components
Ardakani has been accused of facilitating the procurement of components worth hundreds of thousands of dollars for the aerospace research and development arm of the US-designated Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
In a statement, Brian Nelson, the Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, expressed concern about Iran's illicit production and proliferation of deadly drones to its terrorist proxies in the Middle East and Russia. Nelson highlighted that this contributes to escalating tensions and prolonged conflicts, ultimately undermining stability in the region.
As part of the sanctions, the Treasury has targeted Ardakani and three other individuals, along with ten entities, including front companies, based in Iran, Malaysia, Hong Kong, and Indonesia. Concurrently, the Justice Department has unsealed an indictment against Ardakani and Gary Lam, who were previously sanctioned in October for their support of Iran's missile and drone programs.
The court document accuses them of conspiracy to export US goods to Iran, defraud the United States, unlawfully exporting goods to Iran, and engaging in international money laundering. The most severe charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years' imprisonment.
Prosecutors have alleged that Ardakani and Lam conspired to purchase and export dual-use microelectronics used in drone production from the United States to Iran between September 2014 and September 2015. These particular components are subject to US export controls due to anti-terrorism, national security, and regional stability reasons, according to UPI.
US Targets Illegal Collaboration in Drone Tech Procurement
To obfuscate their illegal activities, Lam, who is based in Hong Kong and China, and Ardakani allegedly collaborated with other co-conspirators and employed the use of foreign companies. Prosecutors claim that this tactic was employed on at least four occasions. As a result, the Justice Department has seized approximately $800,000 from companies connected to this network.
Matthew Axelrod, the Assistant Secretary for Export Enforcement at the Department of Commerce, emphasized that US technology should not have any place in Iranian UAVs. He stated that those involved in procuring dual-use microelectronics for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps will be held accountable.
Ardakani and Lam, also known as Lin Jinghe, were previously indicted in September 2020 for conspiring to illegally purchase and export US-made dual-use microelectronics to Iran. Matthew Graves, a US attorney, highlighted their alleged efforts to circumvent US sanctions and support Iran's weapons programs, including the drone program. This program has been implicated in activities supporting terrorist organizations and foreign adversaries, including Russia.
In addition to this indictment, the US Treasury Department has imposed sanctions on an international network led by Ardakani, consisting of ten entities and four individuals based in Iran, Malaysia, Hong Kong, and Indonesia. The Department disclosed that this network facilitated the procurement of components for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Aerospace Force Self Sufficiency Jihad Organization and its drone program.
Intelligence reports suggest that the components obtained through this illicit network have been used by Iran's allies in ongoing conflicts, including in Ukraine. However, it is important to note that Iran denies providing drones to Russia for use in that country. Ardakani and Lam are currently at large and believed to reside outside the United States, South China Morning Post reported.
