Today, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control is targeting six entities based in Hong Kong and China engaged in the procurement of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) components on behalf of OFAC-designated Iranian firm Pishtazan Kavosh Gostar Boshra (PKGB) and its subsidiary Narin Sepehr Mobin Isatis (NSMI).
These entities operate as front companies and facilitate the purchase and shipment of key components for the benefit of PKGB and NSMI, which serve as key suppliers for Iran’s UAV and ballistic missile programs.
OFAC previously designated a network of Hong Kong-based companies procuring sensitive Western-origin materials and technology for Iran’s UAV and missile programs on behalf of PKGB in February 2024.
Today’s action, which supports President Trump’s maximum pressure campaign on Iran, targets efforts by PKGB to reconstitute its procurement network and continue procuring critical parts from foreign suppliers post-designation.
Today’s action was taken pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 13382, which targets proliferators of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and their means of delivery. This action builds on August 28, 2019, and February 2, 2024, actions targeting PKGB’s covert procurement network benefitting Iran’s UAV and ballistic missile production.
OFAC designated PKGB pursuant to E.O. 13382 on August 28, 2019, for being owned or controlled by Hamed Dehghan (Dehghan), PKGB’s chief executive officer and chairman, who was concurrently designated for his central role in facilitating the procurement of military-grade electronic components for Rastafann Engineering Company (Rastafann).
Rastafann was designated pursuant to E.O. 13382 for having provided support to the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) and the Naval Defence Missile Industry Group.
PKGB subsidiary NSMI was designated pursuant to E.O. 13382 on February 2, 2024, for being owned or controlled by, or acting or purporting to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, PKGB.
PKGB operates a network of Hong Kong-based procurement front companies that facilitate the purchase and shipment to Iran of aviation parts with UAV applications valued in millions of dollars. Since the February 2024 designations targeting PKGB’s Hong Kong-based front companies, PKGB has utilized new companies to continue its procurement activities.
Dingtai Industrial Technology Co Limited (Dingtai) has procured U.S.-origin UAV-applicable items, including valve assemblies, radio frequency (RF) connectors, and engines on behalf of PKGB. Yonghongan Trade Limited (Yonghongan) has been used by multiple PKGB front companies after the February 2024 designations, including OFAC-designated Advantage Trading Company Limited (Advantage), to procure Western-origin aircraft components.
Yonghongan has also been used by OFAC-designated PKGB front company Duling Technology Limited (Duling) to purchase millions of dollars of Western-origin UAV-applicable aircraft parts, falsely listing Yonghongan as the purchaser of parts including vane turbines, vane compressors, blade turbines, and blade compressors.
Hong Kong Tianle International Co Limited (Tianle) was used by PKGB to facilitate price quotes and the procurement of U.S.-origin electronic components for Rastafann. Tianle was also used by Advantage to procure thousands of micro servos on behalf of PKGB, falsely listing Tianle as the buyer.
Dingtai, Yonghongan, and Tianle are being designated pursuant to E.O. 13382 for having provided or attempted to provide, financial, material, technological or other support for, or goods or services in support of, PKGB.
PKGB subsidiary NSMI has received shipments of UAV-applicable equipment from Hong Kong and PRC-based companies.
NSMI was the consignee for engine shipments from Hong Kong-based DDC Develop Industry Hong Kong Limited (DDC Develop). PRC-based Shenzhen Zhiyu International Trade Co Ltd (Shenzhen Zhiyu) exported production and testing equipment to NSMI.
Hong Kong-based JP Oriental International Holdings Limited (JP Oriental) exported shipments over the course of multiple years to NSMI.
DDC Develop, Shenzhen Zhiyu, and JP Oriental are being designated pursuant to E.O. 13382 for providing or attempting to provide financial, material, technological, or other support for, or goods or services in support of, NSMI.
