The Trump administration announced a fresh round of sanctions Tuesday against Iran and Venezuela, taking aim at companies and individuals tied to the production and sale of military drones and missile-related technology, as the White House continues to tighten the screws on hostile regimes accused of threatening regional and global security.
According to the Treasury Department, the United States is sanctioning 10 entities and individuals based in Iran and Venezuela for their involvement in unmanned aerial vehicle programs and ballistic missile development. Among the most prominent targets is Venezuela-based Empresa Aeronáutica Nacional SA, which U.S. officials say plays a key role in assembling drones in coordination with Iran’s Qods Aviation Industries.
The sanctions also extend to three individuals based in Iran accused of working to acquire chemicals used in ballistic missile production. In addition, the administration is sanctioning two Iranian companies and three more individuals linked to Iran’s broader UAV and aerospace programs, which U.S. officials say continue to advance in defiance of international restrictions.
State Department spokesperson Tommy Piggott said the move underscores the importance of restoring and enforcing sanctions on Iran under existing United Nations Security Council resolutions. In a statement, Piggott said the newly designated entities and individuals provide clear evidence that Iran is actively proliferating combat drones and continuing to seek missile-related materials in violation of those restrictions.
“Today’s action highlights the importance of the re-imposition of sanctions and other restrictions on Iran pursuant to UN Security Council resolutions,” Piggott said. He added that Iran’s continued activity shows a persistent pattern of defiance that cannot be ignored.
The sanctions come as President Donald Trump has ramped up pressure on both Tehran and Caracas. In recent weeks, Trump has imposed additional penalties on Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and authorized U.S. military action against what he described as a facility used as a docking area for drug-smuggling boats. Those actions marked a sharp escalation in the administration’s effort to disrupt narcotics trafficking and weaken Maduro’s grip on power.
Trump has also issued stark warnings to Iran. During a meeting on Monday with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the president said the United States would not hesitate to act if Iranian leaders move closer to obtaining a nuclear weapon.
“Now, I hear that Iran is trying to build up again, and if they are we’re going to have to knock them down,” Trump said. “We’ll knock them down. We’ll knock the hell out of them. But hopefully that’s not happening.”
The latest sanctions reflect the administration’s broader strategy of combining economic pressure with credible military deterrence. By targeting drone manufacturing and missile procurement networks, U.S. officials say they are aiming to cut off the tools Iran and its allies use to project power and destabilize neighboring regions.
The inclusion of Venezuelan entities highlights growing cooperation between Tehran and Caracas, a relationship that has drawn increasing scrutiny from Washington. U.S. officials argue that Iran’s involvement in Venezuela’s drone production represents a dangerous expansion of its military footprint in the Western Hemisphere.
With these sanctions, the Trump administration is signaling that it intends to aggressively enforce international rules and counter what it sees as coordinated efforts by adversarial regimes to undermine security. As pressure mounts on both Iran and Venezuela, the White House has made clear that economic penalties and military options remain firmly on the table.
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