The U.S. Treasury Department on Friday sanctioned 10 individuals and companies it says helped Iran secure weapons and raw materials for its drone and ballistic missile programs, while the State Department moved against another four entities.
The companies were based in China, Dubai, Hong Kong and Belarus, according to Treasury, which said they acted as intermediaries for Iran's Center for Innovation and Technology Cooperation, providing financial, material, technological or other support. Treasury said the center has sought to buy weapons and air defense systems from China. Among the sanctioned firms, Hong Kong-based Mustad Limited helped or tried to help Iran procure millions of dollars' worth of weapons.
On the same day, satellite images reviewed by The showed what appeared to be an oil slick in the Persian Gulf coming from the western side of Kharg Island, Iran's main crude export terminal. Images taken Friday showed the slick covering about 27 square miles, and Ami Daniel estimated that roughly 80,000 barrels of oil had spilled from Kharg Island since the slick was first detected by satellite images on Tuesday.
The sanctions are part of a broader U.S. effort to disrupt the networks that keep Iran's military supplied. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the administration would continue to act to Keep America Safe and target foreign individuals and companies providing Iran's military with weapons for use against U.S. forces. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the penalties hold China-based entities accountable for their support to Iran.
But the sanctions also underline the limits of Washington's pressure campaign: Treasury said it is targeting procurement channels and intermediaries, yet the case against the oil slick near Kharg Island remains unresolved, with no cause established in the available information.
