OFAC has added the following individuals:
ARLANIZADEH, Vali (Arabic: ولی ارلنی زاده) (a.k.a. ARLANI ZADEH, Vali), Iran; DOB 22 Nov 1979; nationality Iran; Additional Sanctions Information - Subject to Secondary Sanctions; Gender Male; National ID No. 2802738003 (Iran) (individual) [NPWMD] [IFSR] (Linked To: QODS AVIATION INDUSTRIES).
DAMAVANDIAN, Ghassem (Arabic: قاسم دماوندیان) (a.k.a. DAMAVANDIAN, Qassem), Iran; DOB 02 May 1968; nationality Iran; Additional Sanctions Information - Subject to Secondary Sanctions; Gender Male; Passport G9336_77 (Iran) expires 27 Oct 2019; National ID No. 0052944492 (Iran) (individual) [NPWMD] [IFSR] (Linked To: QODS AVIATION INDUSTRIES).
GHOREISHI, Seyed Hojatollah (Arabic: سید حجت اله قریشی) (a.k.a. GHOREISHI, Sayyid Hojatollah; a.k.a. GHOREISHI, Sayyid Hojjatollah; a.k.a. GHOREISHI, Seyed Hojjatollah; a.k.a. GHOREISHI, Seyyed Hojatollah; a.k.a. GHOREISHI, Seyyed Hojjatollah; a.k.a. GHOREISZI, Seyed Hojjatollah E.; a.k.a. QOREISHI, Seyyed Hojatollah; a.k.a. QORESHI, Seyyed Hojatollah; a.k.a. QUREISHI, Seyed Hojjatollah), Iran; DOB 27 Sep 1964; nationality Iran; Additional Sanctions Information - Subject to Secondary Sanctions; Gender Male; Passport D10003923 (Iran) expires 15 Aug 2023 to 15 Aug 2024; alt. Passport N42881363 (Iran) expires 10 Oct 2022; alt. Passport D9021706 (Iran) expires 14 Jul 2021; alt. Passport D10007155 (Iran) expires 17 Aug 2025; alt. Passport A59655618 (Iran) expires 15 Sep 2027; National ID No. 5929869741 (Iran) (individual) [NPWMD] [IFSR] (Linked To: MINISTRY OF DEFENSE AND ARMED FORCES LOGISTICS; Linked To: QODS AVIATION INDUSTRIES).
KHAKI, Reza (Arabic: خاکی رضا), Iran; DOB 01 Aug 1970; nationality Iran; Additional Sanctions Information - Subject to Secondary Sanctions; Gender Male; Passport M38549339 (Iran) expires 05 Nov 2021; National ID No. 1199127795 (Iran) (individual) [NPWMD] [IFSR] (Linked To: QODS AVIATION INDUSTRIES).
NIYAZI-ANGILI, Majid Reza (Arabic: مجید رضا نیازی انگیلی) (a.k.a. NAYYARI ANGILI, Majid Rida; a.k.a. NIAZI ANGILI EBRAHIM, Majid Reza), Iran; DOB 23 Feb 1969; nationality Iran; Additional Sanctions Information - Subject to Secondary Sanctions; Gender Male; National ID No. 0030171628 (Iran) (individual) [NPWMD] [IFSR] (Linked To: QODS AVIATION INDUSTRIES).
SHARIFI-TEHRANI, Hamidreza (Arabic: حمیدرضا شریفی تهرانی) (a.k.a. SHARIFI-TEHRANI, Hamid Reza), Iran; DOB 06 Jul 1974; nationality Iran; Additional Sanctions Information - Subject to Secondary Sanctions; Gender Male; National ID No. 1285834070 (Iran) (individual) [NPWMD] [IFSR] (Linked To: QODS AVIATION INDUSTRIES).
SIAVASH, Nader Khoon (Arabic: نادر خون سیاوش) (a.k.a. SIAVASHI, Nader Khun (Arabic: نادر خون سیاوشی)), Iran; DOB 30 Apr 1963; nationality Iran; Additional Sanctions Information - Subject to Secondary Sanctions; Gender Male; National ID No. 0048894753 (Iran) (individual) [NPWMD] [IFSR] (Linked To: AEROSPACE INDUSTRIES ORGANIZATION).
to its Iran and non-proliferation sanctions program, and updated the following listing:
QODS AVIATION INDUSTRIES (a.k.a. GHODS AVIATION INDUSTRIES; a.k.a. QODS RESEARCH CENTER), P.O. Box 15875-1834, Km 5 Karaj Special Road, Tehran, Iran; Unit (or Suite) 207, Saleh Blvd, Tehran, Iran; Unit 207, Tarajit Maydane Taymori (or Teimori) Square, Basiri Building, Tarasht, Tehran, Iran; Additional Sanctions Information - Subject to Secondary Sanctions [NPWMD] [IFSR] [RUSSIA-EO14024]. -to- QODS AVIATION INDUSTRIES (a.k.a. GHODS AVIATION INDUSTRIES; a.k.a. LIGHT AIRPLANES DESIGN AND MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES; a.k.a. QODS RESEARCH CENTER), P.O. Box 15875-1834, Km 5 Karaj Special Road, Tehran, Iran; Unit (or Suite) 207, Saleh Blvd, Tehran, Iran; Unit 207, Tarajit Maydane Taymori (or Teimori) Square, Basiri Building, Tarasht, Tehran, Iran; Additional Sanctions Information - Subject to Secondary Sanctions [NPWMD] [IFSR] [RUSSIA-EO14024].
listed under the Iran, non-proliferation and Russia programs.
And there are press releases from the Treasury:
PRESS RELEASES
Treasury Sanctions Suppliers of Iranian UAVs Used to Target Ukraine’s Civilian Infrastructure
January 6, 2023
Degraded by Western Sanctions, Russia Turns to Iran for Military Support
WASHINGTON — Today, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) is designating six executives and board members of U.S. designated Qods Aviation Industries (QAI), a key Iranian defense manufacturer responsible for the design and production of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Iran has transferred these UAVs for use in Russia’s unprovoked war of aggression in Ukraine. OFAC is also updating QAI’s entry on the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List (SDN List) to include its new alias, Light Airplanes Design and Manufacturing Industries. Finally, OFAC is designating the director of Iran’s Aerospace Industries Organization (AIO), the key organization responsible for overseeing Iran’s ballistic missile programs.
“We will continue to use every tool at our disposal to deny Putin the weapons that he is using to wage his barbaric and unprovoked war on Ukraine,” said Secretary of the Treasury Janet L. Yellen. “The Kremlin’s reliance on suppliers of last resort like Iran shows their desperation in the face of brave Ukrainian resistance and the success of our global coalition in disrupting Russian military supply chains and denying them the inputs they need to replace weapons lost on the battlefield. The United States will act swiftly against individuals and entities supporting Iran’s UAV and ballistic missile programs and will stand resolutely in support of the people of Ukraine.”
Treasury is acting today pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 13382, “Blocking Property of Weapons of Mass Destruction Proliferators and Their Supporters.” It follows the December 9, 2022, November 15, 2022 and September 8, 2022 designations of individuals and entities involved in the production and transfer of Iranian Shahed- and Mohajer-series UAVs, which Moscow is using in attacks targeting Ukraine’s critical infrastructure.
QAI NAME CHANGE
QAI, which is involved in the production of UAVs and is overseen by Iran’s Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics (MODAFL), was designated pursuant to E.O. 13382 on December 12, 2013. MODAFL and the U.S.-designated Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) contract with QAI for aviation and air defense-related projects, most notably the design and manufacture of the Mohajer-6 UAVs that have been transferred to Russia for use in its unprovoked war of aggression in Ukraine. As a result of its role producing UAVs supplied to Russia, QAI was also designated pursuant to E.O. 14024, “Blocking Property With Respect To Specified Harmful Foreign Activities of the Government of the Russian Federation,” on November 15, 2022.
As of mid-2020, QAI has operated under its new alias, Light Airplanes Design and Manufacturing Industries. As QAI and its affiliated individuals and entities continue to engage in sanctions evasion such as procurement of sensitive UAV parts and technology and proliferation of these UAVs, OFAC is updating QAI’s entry on the SDN List to add Light Airplanes Design and Manufacturing Industries as an alias used by QAI.
QAI EXECUTIVES
Seyed Hojatollah Ghoreishi (Ghoreishi) serves as the Chairman of the Board of Directors of QAI. As the head of the Supply, Research, and Industry Affairs section of MODAFL, and Deputy Minister of Defense, he has led Iran’s military research and development efforts and was responsible for negotiating Iran’s agreement with Russia for the supply of Iranian UAVs for Russia’s war in Ukraine.
Ghoreishi is being designated pursuant to E.O. 13382 for acting or purporting to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, both MODAFL and QAI.
Ghassem Damavandian (Damavandian) is the Managing Director of QAI and a member of the firm’s board. In his role as Managing Director, Damavandian has likely facilitated QAI’s supply of UAVs to Iranian military services in addition to training Russian personnel on the use of QAI-manufactured UAVs.
Damavandian is being designated pursuant to E.O. 13382 for acting or purporting to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, QAI.
Hamidreza Sharifi-Tehrani (Sharifi-Tehrani) has served as a primary member of the Board of Directors of QAI. He has traveled for international conferences related to UAVs and has undoubtedly been involved in the supply of UAVs and related equipment to Iranian military services. Reza Khaki (Khaki), Majid Reza Niyazi-Angili (Niyazi-Angili), and Vali Arlanizadeh (Arlanizadeh) have also served as members of the Board of Directors for QAI.
Sharifi-Tehrani, Khaki, Niyazi-Angili, and Arlanizadeh are all being designated pursuant to E.O. 13382 for acting or purporting to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, QAI.
AIO DIRECTOR
Nader Khoon Siavash (Siavash) is the Director of AIO, the U.S. designated organization that oversees Iran’s ballistic missile programs. In his role as AIO Director, Siavash oversees AIO’s ballistic missile production and testing and deals with international suppliers. AIO was sanctioned under E.O. 13382 on June 28, 2005. Iran’s Central Bank has siphoned millions in discounted foreign currency — ostensibly earmarked for importers of essential goods — to AIO per year, underscoring the regime’s prioritization of its missile programs at the expense of its own citizens.
Siavash is being designated pursuant to E.O. 13382 for acting or purporting to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, AIO.
SANCTIONS IMPLICATIONS
As a result of today’s action, all property and interests in property of the individuals and entities that are in the United States or in the possession or control of U.S. persons must be blocked and reported to OFAC. In addition, any entities that are owned, directly or indirectly, 50 percent or more by one or more blocked persons are also blocked. OFAC sanctions generally prohibit all dealings by U.S. persons or within the United States (including transactions transiting the United States) that involve any property or interests in property of blocked or designated persons.
In addition, persons that engage in certain transactions with the individuals or entities designated today may themselves be exposed to sanctions. Furthermore, any foreign financial institution that knowingly facilitates a significant transaction or provides significant financial services for any of the individuals or entities designated today pursuant to E.O. 13382 could be subject to U.S. sanctions.
The power and integrity of OFAC sanctions derive not only from OFAC’s ability to designate and add persons to the SDN List but also from its willingness to remove persons from the SDN List consistent with the law. The ultimate goal of sanctions is not to punish but to bring about a positive change in behavior. For information concerning the process for seeking removal from an OFAC list, including the SDN List, please refer to OFAC’s FAQ 897.
U.S. Treasury Department Press Release
and State:
New Sanctions Targeting Iran’s UAV and Ballistic Missile Industries
PRESS STATEMENT
ANTONY J. BLINKEN, SECRETARY OF STATE
JANUARY 6, 2023
The United States has designated seven individuals in leadership positions with Qods Aviation Industries (QAI), an Iranian defense manufacturer responsible for the design and production of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), and of Iran’s Aerospace Industries Organization (AIO), the main organization responsible for overseeing Iran’s ballistic missile programs.
Today’s action is pursuant to E.O. 13382 and follows our designations in September and November of individuals and entities involved in the production and transfer of Iranian Shahed
–and Mohajer- series UAVs, which Moscow continues to use in its brutal attacks against Ukraine, including its critical infrastructure.The Iranian regime’s military support to Russia not only fuels the conflict in Ukraine but has also resulted in violations of UN Security Council resolution 2231 through its provision of military UAVs without advance, case-by-case approval of the UN Security Council. Iran has now become Russia’s top military backer. Iran must cease its support for Russia’s unprovoked war of aggression in Ukraine, and we will continue to use every tool at our disposal to disrupt and delay these transfers and impose costs on actors engaged in this activity.
U.S. State Department Press Release
Departments.
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