US - Iran Relations: New Sanctions Imposed Against Iran's Construction, Mining, Textile, Manufacturing Sectors

President Trump on Friday made good on his promise to slap new sanctions on Iran, this time targeting Tehran’s multibillion-dollar metals industry as well as eight senior military and national security officials believed responsible for plans to destabilize the Middle East.

Trump Wednesday said he would impose additional sanctions following a missile attack on two Iraqi bases housing U.S. troops. The barrage was in retaliation for the U.S. targeted drone strike that killed an Iranian general outside Baghdad’s airport, an action that threatens U.S. relations with Iraq.

The Treasury Department said it took action against Iran’s largest steel, aluminum, copper and iron manufacturers as well as revenue sources used to fund Tehran’s nuclear program, missile development, terrorism and terrorist proxy networks. Earlier sanctions have focused on the oil, banking and shipping sectors. Friday’s round will affect the construction, mining, textile and manufacturing sectors.

“The United States is targeting senior Iranian officials for their involvement and complicity in Tuesday’s ballistic missile strikes,” Treasury Secretary Steven T. Mnuchin said in a press release. “We are also designating Iran’s largest metals manufacturers, and imposing sanctions on new sectors of the Iranian economy including construction, manufacturing and mining.

“These sanctions will continue until the regime stops the funding of global terrorism and commits to never having nuclear weapons.”

Iran’s economy has been struggling under sanctions since 2018 when the U.S. pulled out of the nuclear agreement that reined in Tehran’s nuclear program. More than 1,000 individuals, companies and organizations have been cited in a bid to pressure the regime to abandon its nuclear ambitions and interference in the internal affairs of surrounding nations. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has estimated sanctions cost the regime $200 billion in oil and other revenue.

Ali Shamkhani, the secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council and an admiral, was targeted as a key player in implementing Supreme Leader Ali Khameini’s foreign and domestic policies.

Brig. Gen. Gholamreza Soleimani, commander of the paramilitary Basij Resistance Force, was targeted for sanctions for his role in recruiting, training and deploying child soldiers.

Mohsen Reza’I, a longtime member of Iran’s Expediency Council, was cited for his suspected involvement in a 1994 terrorist attack on a Jewish community center in Argentina.

Mohammad Reza Naqdi, deputy coordinator of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, was targeted for his interrogations of those arrested during a post-election crackdown in 2009.

Senior military appointees Mohammad Reza Ashtiani and Ali Abdollahi along with Shamkhani, Soleimani, Reza’i and Naqdi were cited “for being persons appointed to a position as a state official of Iran by the supreme leader.”

Sanctions also were imposed against Ali Asghar Hejazi, a senior official in charge of security, and Mohsen Qomi, a deputy adviser for international affairs, for carrying out actions on Khameini’s behalf.

The sanctions target Pamchel Trading Beijing Co. Inc., Power Anchor Ltd., Hongyuan Marine Co., Mobarakeh Steel Co., Saba Steel, Hormozgan Steel Co., Esfahan Steel Company, Oxin Steel Co., Khorasan Steel Co., South Kaveh Steel Co., Iran Alloy Steel Co., Golgohar Mining and Industrial Co., Chadormalu Mining and Industrial Co., Arfa Iron and Steel Co., Khouzestan Steel Co., Iranian Ghadir Iron & Steel Co., Iran Aluminum Co., Al-Mahdi Aluminum Corp. and National Iranian Copper Industries.