The US Department of the Treasury said in a statement that it imposed sanctions on seven executives and board members of Iran's Qods Aviation Industries for providing drones to Russia for its war in Ukraine.

“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,” the department said.

“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 department added.

The department claimed that “Iran’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.”

The department also called on Tehran to cease its support for “Russia’s unprovoked war of aggression in Ukraine.”

Russia has used loitering munitions bearing the name Geran-2 against Ukraine. These Geran-2 drones are considered by Ukraine and its Western allies to be redesignated Iranian-made Shahed-136 drones. (ILKHA)