WEST PALM BEACH, Florida — The Trump administration on Tuesday sanctioned 10 companies and individuals based in Venezuela and Iran over both nations’ aggressive trade of ballistic missile and drone technology, as part of its campaign to exert maximum pressure on the countries.
The move comes one day after Mr. Trump vowed “very powerful consequences” for Iran if it tries to rebuild its ballistic missile and nuclear programs.
The Treasury Department sanctioned Venezuela-based Empresa Aeronautica Nacional SA and its chair, Jose Jesus Urdeanta Gonzalez, who are accused of trading combat drones with Iran.
It also sanctioned three Iranian companies and people for their efforts to procure chemicals used for ballistic missiles, including ammonium perchlorate, which is used in propellant precursors for drones and missiles.
The Treasury also sanctioned two entities and three individuals based in Iran for their connection to a holding company that produces components and software for the Iranian drone and missile programs.
It is the third round of nonproliferation sanctions against Iran since the United Nations Security Council moved to reimpose nuclear sanctions on Iran in late September. Those restrictions had been lifted as part of an Obama-era 2015 nuclear deal with the U.S. and other nations.
Last month, the U.S. sanctioned dozens of firms and individuals supporting Iran’s ballistic missile and drone manufacturing industry across countries in Asia and the Middle East. All told, 32 individuals and entities in Iran, the UAE, Turkey, China, Hong Kong, India, Germany and Ukraine were sanctioned in that round.
At the same time, the U.S. has ramped up pressure on Venezuela, executing a large-scale military buildup in the southern Caribbean. It has also sanctioned family members and associates of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife.
Mr. Trump on Monday confirmed the U.S. struck a dock in Venezuela that he said was used to load drugs onto boats, in the first known land attack against the country.
Sanctioned individuals will be denied access to any property or financial assets held in the U.S., and the penalties are intended to prevent U.S. companies and citizens from doing business with them. Bank and financial institutions that violate the restriction expose themselves to sanctions or enforcement actions.
“Treasury is holding Iran and Venezuela accountable for their aggressive and reckless proliferation of deadly weapons around the world,” said John Hurley, Treasury undersecretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence. “We will continue to take swift action to deprive those who enable Iran’s military-industrial complex to the U.S. financial system.”
On Monday, Mr. Trump said he would act quickly if Iran is taking steps to restock its missile arsenal or rebuild its nuclear site after U.S. military strikes last summer.
“Consequences will be very powerful,” Mr. Trump said at a press conference alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. “Maybe more powerful than the last time.”
Mr. Trump said he had heard that Iran was trying to rebuild its weapons capabilities at sites different from the three the U.S. attacked in June. Still, he emphasized that any Iranian activity had not been confirmed.
Israeli officials and independent analysts say Iran is rebuilding its ballistic missile program after Israel struck its factories and missile launchers during a 12-day war in June. Israel has vowed to destroy those rebuilding efforts before Iran can improve its air defenses, which were heavily damaged during the war.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian vowed last month that his country would rebuild its nuclear facilities “with greater strength” and maintained that Iran doesn’t want nuclear weapons.
