The United States has imposed sanctions on a network of individuals aiding weapons procurement for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps on Wednesday, per a Treasury Department release.

The Office of Foreign Assets Control identified seven people and entities seeking to acquire and transfer arms to Iran. The action coincides with heightened Iranian strikes on commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz and parallel US military measures to counter them.

President Trump has been clear that Iran must denuclearize, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated. Treasury will continue to target and disrupt the illicit procurement networks that fund Iran weapons programs and war machine.

The attempted acquisitions violated renewed UN Security Council resolutions banning member states from procuring, supplying, selling, or transferring weapons to Iran.

OFAC will continue to disrupt the overseas procurement and financial networks that sustain Iran weapons production and proliferation efforts, which threaten Americans and US partners and allies worldwide, the statement noted.

The IRGC procurement network

Behrouz Namazi, an Iranian national and general director of Tehran-based Nika Jet Company, which handles aircraft and drone parts, was sanctioned. He allegedly obtains weapons for the IRGC through Vanguard Tactical Supply Limited and Milan-based Italian national Dounia Ettaib, who assists Namazi in procurement.

Russian national Mariya Vladimirovna Selina, financial department head at Moscow aviation firm Avratek, supported Namazi procurement efforts for the IRGC, according to Treasury.

Russian national Vadim Anatolyevich Druzhbin, also at Avratek, coordinated shipments with Iran.

All sanctioned parties were penalized for providing or attempting to provide financial, material, technological or other support for the IRGC or Namazi under Executive Order 13382.

Sanctions require immediate reporting to OFAC of any US-related property tied to the sanctioned and block entities up to 50 percent owned by them.

Violations of US sanctions may result in civil or criminal penalties for US and foreign persons, the statement said.

Emphasis on economic pressure on Iran

Operation Economic Fury functions as a financial warfare approach. The Treasury initiative seeks to impose maximum economic pressure on Iran during the conflict before the US-Iran Memorandum of Understanding.

The strategy involves maritime blockade efforts in the Strait of Hormuz along with sanctions and asset seizures against covert weapons procurement networks aiming to evade Iran sanctions.

The US has previously sanctioned individuals sourcing weapons for Iran, including a group of 13 attempting to smuggle man-portable air-defense systems in June.

Aaron Glick contributed to this report.