On December 18, 2024, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control designated two individuals and two entities for developing and procuring components for sensitive navigation systems for Iran – systems allegedly used by the Iranian military for the production and proliferation of unmanned aerial vehicles (“UAVs”) and missiles. The Department of State concurrently designated of one individual and two entities involved in UAV and missile development in Iran. Specifically, OFAC designated Iran-based Sanat Danesh Rahpuyan Aflak Company Ltd (“SDRA”), a company that develops and produces navigation systems used in ballistic and cruise missiles, UAVs, and other unmanned vehicles and vessels, according to OFAC. OFAC also designated SDRA’s CEO Mohammed Abedininajafabadi; its Chief Technology Officer Kaveh Merat, and Switzerland-based Illumove SA, a company controlled by Abedininajafabadi that was allegedly used to represent SDRA’s interests abroad.
According to OFAC, these actions were taken in coordination with the Department of Commerce and the Department of Justice. The DOJ, in particular, worked with OFAC to charge and coordinate the arrest of Abedininajafabadi and his co-defendant, a resident of Massachusetts, for their efforts to procure sensitive technology used in the development of Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (“IRGC”) UAVs, in violation of export control and sanctions laws. According the DOJ, Abedininajafabadi was additionally charged for providing material support to a foreign terrorist organization (“FTO”) that resulted in the deaths of three U.S. service members who were killed in a UAV attack on a military base in Jordan.
All designations were imposed pursuant to Executive Order 13382, which targets those involved in the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their supporters. As a result of these designations, all property and interests in property of these designees within the United States or within the possession or control of a U.S. person are blocked, and U.S. persons are generally prohibited from engaging in transactions involving the designated persons. Entities owned 50 percent or more by one or more blocked persons are also blocked.
U.S. Department of Treasury Press Release | U.S. Department of Justice Press Release | U.S. Department of State Press Statement