US Sanctions Iranian Shipping and Aviation Industries Connected to IRGC

The United States sanctioned an Iranian shipping network on Wednesday for allegedly smuggling lethal aid from Iran to Yemen on behalf of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps’s Quds Force, in addition to an Iran’s biggest airline.

Last month, the U.S. government seized weapons smuggled on a small boat destined for Yemen.

The United States has also designated Mahan Air, in addition to its sales agents based in the United Arab Emirates and Hong Kong, for allegedly supporting the IRGC.

“The Iranian regime uses its aviation and shipping industries to supply its regional terrorist and militant groups with weapons, directly contributing to the devastating humanitarian crises in Syria and Yemen,” said U.S. Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin. “Aviation and shipping industries should be vigilant and not allow their industries to be exploited by terrorists.”

The moves reflect the Trump administration’s maximum pressure campaign against Iran since withdrawing from the 2015 nuclear accord and reimposing sanctions lifted under it, along with enacting new financial penalties.