Washington imposes new sanctions on an Iran-based network accused of impersonating U.S. companies, evading export controls, and procuring restricted technology for Iran’s military establishment.
The United States has announced sweeping new sanctions against an Iranian procurement network accused of deceiving American businesses and illegally acquiring sensitive technology for the Iranian regime’s military apparatus.
In a statement released on May 29, the U.S. Department of the Treasury said the sanctions target a network of individuals and companies that allegedly impersonated American firms and defrauded dozens of U.S. businesses in order to obtain restricted goods for Iran’s Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics (MODAFL) and other sanctioned entities.
The action was carried out by the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) in coordination with the U.S. Department of Commerce and the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Los Angeles Field Office.
Iranian Regime Accused of Deceiving American Companies
According to U.S. authorities, the network used fraudulent tactics to acquire controlled technology, including network security software, encryption products, spectrum analyzers, and other sensitive equipment that could support Iran’s military and defense industries.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the case demonstrates the lengths to which the Iranian regime is willing to go in order to sustain its military capabilities.
According to the Treasury Department, Iranian military-linked operatives targeted American businesses through elaborate deception schemes designed to circumvent sanctions and export restrictions.
U.S. officials stated that the procurement effort was ultimately intended to benefit entities operating under Iran’s Ministry of Defense, an organization that has long been subject to U.S. sanctions due to its role in supporting the regime’s military programs and its connections to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
Part of the Trump Administration’s “Economic Fury” Campaign
The sanctions were announced as part of the Trump administration’s ongoing “Economic Fury” strategy, a pressure campaign designed to restrict the Iranian regime’s access to financial resources, military technology, and international commerce.
According to the Treasury Department, the campaign has already disrupted tens of billions of dollars in revenue that would otherwise have been available to Tehran and its regional proxies.
The department stated that recent actions have targeted multiple sources of regime financing, including illicit oil exports, shadow banking networks, cryptocurrency holdings linked to the regime, sanctions-evasion operations, and procurement channels supplying military equipment.
Treasury officials also reiterated that any individual, company, or vessel involved in facilitating illicit Iranian trade risks becoming the target of U.S. sanctions.
How the Procurement Scheme Operated
According to the Treasury Department, the central figure in the network was Iranian national Ali Majd Sepehr, who allegedly operated through an Iranian company known as Sorena Hushmand Samaneh Company (Sorena).
U.S. authorities allege that Sepehr and his associates impersonated American small businesses in order to purchase restricted products from other U.S. companies. Through these activities, the network allegedly defrauded dozens of American information technology firms, vendors, and resellers, causing losses worth millions of dollars.
Investigators say Sepehr sought to obtain export-controlled technologies on behalf of Sairan Information Exchange Space Security Industries Company (SAAFTA), an Iranian entity controlled by the Ministry of Defense.
The Treasury Department identified Roudabeh Sarmadi, chairperson of Sorena’s board of directors, as another key participant in the network.
International Network Spanning Iran, UAE, and Europe
The investigation also revealed an international procurement structure extending beyond Iran.
According to U.S. authorities, Iranian national Mohammadali Mansour Darehshiri allegedly served as an intermediary, helping move restricted goods from the United States through the United Arab Emirates before they were ultimately re-exported to Iran.
Darehshiri is accused of using Dubai-based companies, including Green Light Computer Co LLC and Al Kawther Neon LLC, to receive and redirect shipments destined for the Iranian regime.
The Treasury Department also named Italy-based Iranian national Saied Zahedi, accusing him of facilitating payments for internet domains and logistical services used in the procurement scheme.
Authorities allege that some of the domains were specifically created to impersonate American companies and mislead suppliers into shipping controlled products.
Multiple Individuals and Companies Sanctioned
As part of the action, the Treasury Department imposed sanctions on several individuals and entities allegedly involved in the operation.
Those sanctioned include:
- Ali Majd Sepehr
- Roudabeh Sarmadi
- Mohammadali Mansour Darehshiri
- Saied Zahedi
- Manoochehr Zandian
- Hoda Baradaran Bagheri
- Farzaneh Rezaei
- Sayyad Payam Akhtarian
- Sorena Hushmand Samaneh Company
- Sairan Information Exchange Space Security Industries Company (SAAFTA)
- Green Light Computer Co LLC
- Al Kawther Neon LLC
According to the Treasury Department, these individuals and entities either provided support to Iran’s Ministry of Defense, facilitated the procurement operation, or acted on behalf of sanctioned organizations.
Reward Offered for Information on IRGC Financial Networks
The U.S. government also highlighted the State Department’s Rewards for Justice program, which is offering up to $15 million for information that helps disrupt the financial mechanisms of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and its affiliated branches.
The announcement reflects Washington’s continuing focus on weakening the financial infrastructure that supports the IRGC and other regime institutions involved in military, intelligence, and regional operations.
Escalating Pressure on Tehran
The latest sanctions underscore the Trump administration’s determination to intensify economic pressure on the Iranian regime and restrict its ability to access foreign technology, financial services, and global markets.
Under the sanctions, all property and financial interests of the designated individuals and entities that fall under U.S. jurisdiction are blocked. American individuals and companies are generally prohibited from conducting transactions with those listed, while foreign financial institutions that facilitate significant transactions on their behalf could face secondary sanctions.
The Treasury Department warned that it remains prepared to pursue both traditional sanctions-evasion networks and emerging methods involving digital assets and complex international financial structures.
The action represents one of the most significant recent efforts by U.S. authorities to disrupt procurement channels supporting Iran’s military-industrial apparatus and highlights ongoing concerns over Tehran’s attempts to acquire restricted Western technology despite years of international sanctions.
