Treasury sanctions Iran, Venezuela over combat drones, weapons trade

The Treasury Department announced Tuesday that it is sanctioning 10 individuals and companies based in Venezuela and Iran, including a Venezuelan company tied to Iran's combat drone and weapons trade.

The sanctions are part of the Trump administration's latest effort to curb Iranian military capabilities over concern that it's trying to rebuild its nuclear weapons program. It also comes as the U.S. targets alleged Venezuelan drug boats in multiple strikes this year, which it claims are attempting to traffic illicit drugs into the country.

The department said Iran's unmanned aerial vehicle trade threatens U.S. personnel in the Middle East, and its trade with Venezuela poses security concerns in the Western Hemisphere. 

“Treasury is holding Iran and Venezuela accountable for their aggressive and reckless proliferation of deadly weapons around the world,” Treasury Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence John Hurley said. “We will continue to take swift action to deprive those who enable Iran’s military-industrial complex access to the U.S. financial system.” 

The sanctions additionally come as the Iranian economy has struggled under renewed Western sanctions tied to its nuclear program and other geopolitical disputes, with inflation high and the national currency weak.

The state of Iran's economy has prompted protests all around the Middle Eastern country, which mark the country's biggest protests since 2022, when demonstrations broke out in response to 22-year-old Mahsa Jina Amini dying while in police custody after being arrested for allegedly not wearing her hijab properly.

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.