New US sanctions on Iran and Venezuela over protests
In a new escalation reflecting Washington's determination to curb the military influence of Tehran and its allies in Latin America, the United States announced on Tuesday a new package of sanctions targeting military trade networks between Iran and Venezuela. These sanctions focus primarily on the drone sector and sensitive chemicals used in ballistic missile development, highlighting growing US concerns about the two countries' expanding unconventional military capabilities.
Details of sanctions and targeted entities
The U.S. Treasury Department, in its latest decision, targeted 10 individuals and entities based in Venezuela and Iran. These punitive measures stem from their involvement in suspicious transactions, including the purchase of Iranian-made drones, as well as persistent attempts to acquire chemicals and technical equipment used in missile manufacturing. John Hurley, Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, stated that the department is committed to holding the Iranian and Venezuelan regimes accountable for what he described as their "continued and reckless proliferation of deadly weapons," emphasizing that Washington will act swiftly to block any financial access that the Iranian military-industrial complex might receive through the U.S. financial system.
Strategic alliance between Tehran and Caracas
These sanctions cannot be understood in isolation from the historical and political context of relations between the two countries. Tehran and Caracas have been bound by a strategic alliance for years, strengthened by Western sanctions imposed on both regimes. Through this military and economic cooperation, the two countries seek to form a united front against US pressure. Venezuela sees Iranian military technology as a low-cost alternative for modernizing its arsenal, while Iran sees Venezuela as a strategic foothold in the United States' backyard.
Security repercussions and international concerns
These developments are of paramount importance given their potential impact on regional and international security. The proliferation of Iranian drone technology not only threatens the stability of South America but also extends to the security of international navigation. The U.S. Treasury Department has indicated that Iran’s missile and drone programs now pose a direct threat to the United States and its allies in the Middle East and contribute to destabilizing commercial shipping in vital waterways such as the Red Sea.
Escalating political and military pressure
The announcement of these sanctions coincides with a significant political escalation, with reports indicating that the Trump administration has been pressuring Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. In a related development, Trump stated that US forces had conducted targeted operations against drug trafficking ports, signaling a broadening of the confrontation to include combating illicit activities that may fund these regimes.
Among the most prominent entities targeted by the sanctions are the Venezuelan company Impresa Aeronautica Nacional SA and its chairman, for their involvement in importing Iranian drones. In this regard, Thomas Pigot, spokesperson for the US State Department, affirmed that the continued flow of conventional weapons and combat drones from Tehran to Caracas constitutes a "threat to US interests," emphasizing that these activities blatantly violate UN resolutions and international restrictions on arming Iran.
