The US Treasury Department imposed sanctions Friday on a businessman accused of working with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to illegally generate revenue and smuggle weapons.
The sanctions freeze any US-held assets belonging to Amir Dianat, an Iranian-Iraqi national the Treasury Department says was involved in the shipment of missiles on behalf of the IRGC’s elite Quds Force and smuggling “lethal aid” from Iran to Yemen.
The United States also designated Taif Mining Services, a company owned, controlled or directed by Dianat, according to the Treasury statement.
“The Iranian regime and its supporters continue to prioritize the funding of international terrorist organizations over the health and well-being of the Iranian people,” said Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin. “The United States remains committed to working with financial institutions, non-profit organizations, and international partners to facilitate humanitarian trade and assistance to the Iranian people.”
The Donald Trump administration has imposed tough economic sanctions on the Islamic Republic since withdrawing from the landmark nuclear deal with Iran and other world powers.