Overview

• The United States announced sanctions on May 14 against six individuals, including three Chinese nationals, and 12 firms linked to Iran's ballistic missile program.
• The sanctioned entities provided carbon fiber materials and manufacturing equipment to Iranian organizations tied to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
• These actions are part of the Trump administration's maximum pressure strategy under National Security Presidential Memorandum-2 to curb Iran's weapons proliferation activities.
• The sanctions were issued under Executive Order 13382, aimed at targeting proliferators of weapons of mass destruction and their supporters.
• The move coincides with ongoing indirect nuclear negotiations between Washington and Tehran, marking a continued effort to leverage economic pressure in diplomatic talks.