Indian firm among 31 entities sanctioned by US for aiding Iran’s missile, drone programmes

The United States Department of the Treasury has imposed sanctions on an Indian company, among 31 global entities and individuals, for allegedly supplying materials to Iran’s ballistic missile and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) programmes.

According to the US Treasury’s statement on Wednesday, the sanctions target Iran’s procurement networks that acquired chemical precursors used in solid rocket propellants—key ingredients in ballistic missile production. The announcement was made through the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), as part of a broader sanctions package covering entities across multiple countries, ANI reported.

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US targets global network spanning eight countries

The sanctions list includes 32 individuals and entities operating from Iran, the United Arab Emirates, Turkiye, China, Hong Kong, India, Germany, and Ukraine. The US Treasury said the designated entities were part of multiple procurement networks supporting Iran’s weapons development efforts.

Among those sanctioned is India-based Farmlane Private Limited, which OFAC said operated under the direction of UAE-based MVM Amici Trading LLC and was controlled by German national Marco Klinge. Klinge, identified as the director of Farmlane and CEO of Germany-based EVA Handelsgesellschaft UG, was allegedly responsible for procurement operations from India and China for the network.

The Treasury statement said Klinge and his network coordinated the procurement of missile propellant ingredients — including sodium chlorate, sodium perchlorate, and sebacic acid — from China on behalf of Parchin Chemical Industries (PCI), a key player in Iran’s ballistic missile programme.

“Across the globe, Iran exploits financial systems to launder funds, procure components for its nuclear and conventional weapons programs, and support its terrorist proxies,” said John K. Hurley, Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence.

“At the direction of President Trump, we are putting maximum pressure on Iran to end its nuclear threat. The United States also expects the international community to fully implement UN snapback sanctions on Iran to cut off its access to the global financial system,” Hurley added.According to the US Treasury, Farmlane Pvt Ltd was part of a broader network known as the MVM Partnership, which since 2023 has procured hundreds of metric tonnes of missile propellant ingredients from China. These materials were used to manufacture ammonium perchlorate, a key component in solid propellant rocket motors for ballistic missiles.

The sanctions were issued under Executive Order 13382, targeting proliferators of weapons of mass destruction and their supporters, and Executive Order 13224, which targets terrorist organisations and their financiers.

OFAC said the action aims to disrupt the procurement of missile propellant precursors and block the involved entities from accessing the US financial system. The designations also support the reimposition of United Nations sanctions on Iran, effective September 27, after Tehran’s continued non-compliance with international commitments.

“These networks pose a threat to US and allied personnel in the Middle East and to commercial shipping in the Red Sea,” the Treasury said, adding that as Iran seeks to rebuild its proliferation-sensitive capabilities “destroyed following the 12-Day War,” OFAC is acting to disrupt those efforts.

The sanctions freeze all assets of the listed entities under US jurisdiction and prohibit any transactions with US persons or institutions.

Foreign media reports suggest that Iran is ramping up its missile production, with the goal of being able to launch up to 2,000 missiles simultaneously in any future confrontation with Israel.

Meanwhile, Trump’s administration has reinstated its “maximum pressure” campaign on Iran, which includes using the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) to tighten financial restrictions on Tehran and prevent its nuclear ambitions.

According to the November 12 US Treasury release, Washington will continue to “use all available means, including sanctions on entities based in third countries,” to expose and counter Iran’s procurement of equipment and materials for its ballistic missile and UAV programmes — actions the US says “jeopardize regional security and international stability.”