WASHINGTON: The United States has imposed sanctions on three entities based in Iran and Russia over their alleged involvement in facilitating Iran’s military procurement efforts and the transportation of arms and related military materiel.
The U.S. Department of State announced the measures on September 29, 2026, saying the action came one year after the reimposition of United Nations sanctions and restrictive measures on Iran.
According to the State Department, the United States has worked with international partners over the past year to strengthen enforcement of the restrictions, including imposing dozens of new sanctions and coordinating with representatives from 40 countries.
The three entities designated under Executive Order 13949 are Russia-based Joint Stock Company Experimental Design Bureau Named After A.S. Yakovlev (YAKOVLEV), Russia-based MG-FLOT Limited Liability Company (MG-FLOT), and Iran-based SAHA AIRLINES.
The State Department said YAKOVLEV is a Russian aircraft manufacturer involved in developing and producing the Yak-130 advanced trainer fighter jet. According to the department, Russia delivered Yak-130 aircraft to Iran in late 2023 and subsequently transferred additional equipment associated with the aircraft in 2025.
The department also accused MG-FLOT, a Russian shipping company, of involvement in transporting weapons for the Russian government. It said vessels associated with the company were involved in the transfer of close-range ballistic missiles from Iran to Russia in 2024.
The U.S. government further said that, in late 2025, Iran transferred air-defense vehicles and related military materiel to Russia aboard the Russian roll-on/roll-off vessel Kompozitor Rakhmaninov, which the United States identifies as blocked property associated with MG-FLOT.
Regarding SAHA AIRLINES, the State Department described it as an Iran-based airline affiliated with the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force and said it had been involved in efforts to transport arms and related materiel.
The sanctions block all property and interests in property of the designated entities that are in the United States or under the possession or control of U.S. persons. Such property must be reported to the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC).
The restrictions also prohibit transactions by U.S. persons or within or transiting the United States involving property or interests in property of designated or otherwise blocked persons, unless authorized by OFAC or otherwise exempt.
Separately, the U.S. Department of the Treasury announced sanctions against ten additional entities and individuals accused of procuring weapons and weapons components for Iran’s Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics.
The State Department said the measures form part of Operation Economic Outcast, under which the United States says it is seeking to disrupt procurement activities linked to Iran’s military programs and restrict the resources available to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
The department also said its Rewards for Justice program continues to seek information concerning the financial activities of senior IRGC Aerospace Force officials involved in weapons development, procurement and related operations.
Reported By: Mirza Maqbool Baig I Washington
