WASHINGTON – December 30, 2025 – The U.S. Treasury Department just sanctioned ten individuals and entities, alleging a clandestine network funneling Iranian-made combat drones to Venezuela. It’s a move that signals escalating U.S. concern over Tehran’s expanding military reach in Latin America, and a direct challenge to Venezuela’s Nicolás Maduro regime.
The U.S. is cracking down on a suspected drone pipeline between Iran and Venezuela, raising tensions in both regions.
- the U.S. Treasury designated a Venezuelan firm, Empresa Aeronautica Nacional SA (EANSA), and its chair for acquiring Iranian drones.
- Iran and Venezuela have reportedly been collaborating on drone technology as 2006,rebranding Iranian Mohajer-series drones as ANSU-series in Venezuela.
- The sanctions also target individuals involved in procuring chemicals for iran’s ballistic missile program.
- This action builds on previous sanctions aimed at disrupting Iran’s weapons proliferation efforts.
“Treasury is holding Iran and Venezuela accountable for their aggressive and reckless proliferation of deadly weapons around the world,” stated Treasury Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial intelligence John K. Hurley. “We will continue to take swift action to deprive those who enable Iran’s military-industrial complex access to the U.S. financial system.”
Drone Trade: A Venezuela-Iran Connection
What kind of drones are we talking about? Since 2006, Iran’s Qods Aviation Industries (QAI) has been supplying Venezuela with Mohajer-series unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). These drones are then re-branded in Venezuela as the ANSU-series. EANSA,the Venezuela-based company at the center of the sanctions,has been directly negotiating with QAI and has facilitated sales worth millions of dollars.
The sanctions also target RFKA, a key Iranian procurement network, and its role in supplying components for the IRGC’s UAV and aerospace programs.
The sanctions extend to individuals associated with RFKA’s subsidiaries,including Fanavari Electro Moj Mobin Company (Fanavari),and its leadership. Bahram Rezaei, Erfan Qaysari, and Mehdi Ghaffari were also designated for their roles within the network.
These actions are rooted in National Security Presidential Memorandum 2,which directs the U.S. goverment to counter Iran’s ballistic missile program and destabilizing activities. The Treasury is acting under Executive Orders 13382 and 13949, targeting weapons proliferators and those involved in Iran’s conventional arms activities.
Violations of these sanctions could lead to civil or criminal penalties for both U.S. and foreign individuals and entities. OFAC provides guidance on sanctions enforcement and the process for seeking removal from the Specially Designated Nationals List.
for more facts on the designated individuals and entities, visit the Treasury Department’s website.
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