The U.S. imposed sanctions on 10 people and firms from Iran and Venezuela over allegedly contributing to Iran's drone trade and ballistics programme which the Trump administration says threatens the U.S. and its allies in West Asia.
The Treasury Department said the latest measures are intended to support the reimposed United Nations sanctions on Iran over its nuclear programme, further squeezing the Islamic Republic. Iran has long insisted its nuclear programme is peaceful.
Included in Tuesday's (December 30, 2025) sanctions is a Venezuelan firm and its chairman, accused of purchasing Iranian drones; three Iranian men connected with efforts to procure chemicals used for ballistic missiles; and a group of Iran-based people and firms connected to Rayan Fan Group, a holding company previously sanctioned by the U.S.
In February, President Donald Trump reimposed a “maximum pressure” campaign on Iran in an effort to to block its development of nuclear weapons. The campaign included U.S. led strikes on three critical Iranian enrichment facilities this summer after a week of open conflict between Israel and Iran, sparked by a sudden barrage of attacks by Israel against Iran's nuclear and military structure.
