US imposes new sanctions on Iran, Houthis over defence industry links

The United States on June 20 announced a fresh wave of sanctions targeting Iran’s defence industry and Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi rebels, citing concerns over regional and global security.

According to a statement from U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, the new measures aim to disrupt Iran’s procurement of sensitive, dual-use technologies and machinery critical to the regime’s ballistic missile, unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), and asymmetric weapons programs, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

“The United States remains resolved to disrupt any effort by Iran to procure the sensitive, dual-use technology, components, and machinery that underpin the regime’s ballistic missile, unmanned aerial vehicle, and asymmetric weapons programs,” Bessent said. “Treasury will continue to degrade Iran’s ability to produce and proliferate these deadly weapons, which threaten regional stability and global security.”

The sanctions target eight entities, one vessel, and one individual. Among those sanctioned are Hong Kong-based shipping companies Unico Shipping Co Ltd and Athena Shipping Co Ltd, which are accused of facilitating the delivery of sensitive materials to Iran’s defence sector.

In a separate announcement, the Treasury Department also unveiled new counterterrorism sanctions targeting Yemen’s Houthi movement—officially known as Ansarallah—for its alleged involvement in illicit oil trading and smuggling operations.

These sanctions affect four individuals, 12 entities, and two vessels accused of generating revenue to fund the Houthis' military activities.

“Today the United States is sanctioning a range of actors who have generated significant revenue for Iran-backed Ansarallah, commonly known as the Houthis,” U.S. State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said in a press release. “This action targets vessels and their owners and operators that have undermined U.S. sanctions, as well as front companies and Houthi operatives that have facilitated illicit trade and smuggling.”

Bruce added that the sanctions seek to deprive the Houthis of resources used to conduct “reckless and destabilizing actions,” and reaffirmed Washington’s commitment to protecting US forces and allies, defending freedom of navigation, and countering the exploitation of Yemeni civilians.

By Sabina Mammadli