US Imposes Sanctions on Iran-related Drone Production Network

The Treasury Department logo. Reuters
The Treasury Department logo. Reuters
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US Imposes Sanctions on Iran-related Drone Production Network

The Treasury Department logo. Reuters
The Treasury Department logo. Reuters

The United States has issued fresh sanctions on 10 entities and four individuals based in Iran, Malaysia, Hong Kong and Indonesia that it accuses of supporting the production of Iranian drones, the Treasury Department said on Tuesday.

The network has facilitated the procurement of components worth hundreds of thousands of dollars for the Revolutionary Guard Corps Aerospace Force Self Sufficiency Jihad Organization and its drone program, the department said.

"Iran's illicit production and proliferation of its deadly UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles) to its terrorist proxies in the Middle East and to Russia continues to exacerbate tensions and prolong conflicts, undermining stability,” Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Brian Nelson said in a statement.

Washington has long accused Tehran of supplying such weapons to Russia for use in Ukraine. Iran denies providing Russia with drones for use in the country.



Fires Rage 2 Days after Iran Port Blast Killed 40

This satellite photo from Planet Labs PBC shows the Shahid Rajaei port near Bandar Abbas, Iran, Sunday, April 27, 2025. (Planet Labs PBC via AP)
This satellite photo from Planet Labs PBC shows the Shahid Rajaei port near Bandar Abbas, Iran, Sunday, April 27, 2025. (Planet Labs PBC via AP)
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Fires Rage 2 Days after Iran Port Blast Killed 40

This satellite photo from Planet Labs PBC shows the Shahid Rajaei port near Bandar Abbas, Iran, Sunday, April 27, 2025. (Planet Labs PBC via AP)
This satellite photo from Planet Labs PBC shows the Shahid Rajaei port near Bandar Abbas, Iran, Sunday, April 27, 2025. (Planet Labs PBC via AP)

Firefighters in Iran battled raging fires on Monday at the country's largest commercial port, two days after a massive explosion killed at least 40 people, state TV reported.

The blast took place on Saturday at Shahid Rajaee Port in Iran's south near the strategic Strait of Hormuz, a waterway through which one-fifth of global oil output passes.

It killed at least 40 people and injured more than 1,000 others, officials said, after triggering smaller explosions and fires in nearby containers, said AFP.

Iran's state TV showed images of firefighters dousing the flames, and said the damage will be assessed after the fire is fully brought under control.

Thick, swirling plumes of smoke rose over the stacked containers at the site, the TV images showed.

It was not immediately clear what caused the explosion but the port's customs office said it likely resulted from a fire that broke out at the hazardous and chemical materials storage depot.

Iran's supreme leader Ali Khamenei ordered a probe into the incident to determine if there were "any negligence or intent".

Smoke, then a fireball

CCTV images on social media showed the incident began gradually, with a small fire and orange-brown smoke before a fireball erupted.

The images appeared to show the small fire starting among a few containers stacked outside across from a warehouse. A small forklift truck drove past the smoking area and men walked nearby.

About one minute and eight seconds after the small fire and smoke were visible, a fireball erupted as vehicles passed nearby. Men ran for their lives.

President Masoud Pezeshkian on Sunday visited hospitals treating the wounded in the nearby city of Bandar Abbas.

Since the explosion, authorities have ordered all schools and offices in the area closed and urged residents to avoid going outside "until further notice" and to use protective masks.

The New York Times quoted a person with ties to Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss security matters, as saying that what exploded was sodium perchlorate -- a major ingredient in solid fuel for missiles.

Defense ministry spokesman Reza Talaei-Nik later told state TV that "there has been no imported or exported cargo for military fuel or military use in the area".

Russia dispatched specialists to help battle the blazes.

Authorities have declared Monday a national day of mourning, while three days of mourning began Sunday in Hormozgan province, where the port is located.

The blast occurred as Iranian and US delegations met in Oman for high-level talks on Tehran's nuclear program, with both sides reporting progress.

While Iranian authorities so far appear to be treating the blast as an accident, it also comes against the backdrop of years of shadow war with regional foe Israel.

According to the Washington Post, Israel launched a cyberattack targeting the Shahid Rajaee Port in 2020