By Timothy Frudd

The Trump administration announced new sanctions on Wednesday targeting two individuals and one entity linked to Iran’s efforts to obtain man-portable air defense systems.

Under the sanctions, the U.S. State Department designated the CEO of a Belarus-based entity, a Russia-based individual, and a Nigeria-based entity. The designations were issued under Executive Order 13949, which targets individuals and entities tied to Iran’s conventional arms activities.

State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott said in a Nov. 4 statement that the sanctions were the latest in a series of actions targeting the Iranian military’s procurement networks involving man-portable air defense systems, and consistent with the Trump administration’s Operation Economic Outcast, which has included multiple rounds of sanctions aimed at pressuring the Iranian regime to make a deal.

The Trump administration previously issued similar sanctions on May 8, June 10, and July 15, 2026. The previous actions targeted individuals and entities linked to procurement networks providing weapons, including man-portable air defense systems, for Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and the regime’s Center for Innovation and Technology Cooperation.

Each round of sanctions makes it “harder and more costly” for Iran to arm itself, Pigott said. The State Department spokesman added that the sanctions also reinforce the arms embargo that the United Nations restored in September 2025, preventing U.N. member nations from supplying weapons to Iran.

“Iran’s procurement efforts threaten U.S. national security, and the United States will take all necessary action to hold the Iranian regime accountable,” Pigott said on Wednesday.

“The United States will continue to work with partners to implement the restored U.N. measures and to stop the flow of weapons that threaten U.S. forces and regional security. Anyone who helps the regime build its arsenal should expect to be held accountable.”

As part of Wednesday’s sanctions, the State Department designated Mohammed Ali Tolibov, the CEO of Belarus-based Armory Alliance, for allegedly contributing to the company’s efforts to procure weapons for Iran. The department said the company has served as an intermediary between Iran and Chinese companies and has been involved in Iran’s efforts to purchase hundreds of man-portable air defense systems.

The Trump administration had previously designated both Tolibov and Armory Alliance before the announcement.

In addition to sanctioning Tolibov, the State Department designated Nigeria-based Vanguard Tactical Supply Limited for allegedly trying to facilitate the procurement of Chinese man-portable air defense systems for Iran through false end users. Vanguard Tactical Supply Limited was also previously designated by the U.S. government.

Alisher Domullodzhanov, a Russian-based individual, was also sanctioned on Wednesday for his alleged involvement in efforts to help Iran obtain man-portable air defense systems.

Under the Nov. 4 sanctions, any property belonging to Vanguard Tactical Supply Limited, Tolibov, and Domullodzhanov in the United States or in the possession of U.S. persons will be blocked and must be reported to the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control. In addition, any entities owned 50 percent or more by blocked persons will also be blocked.

The Treasury Department separately announced another round of sanctions against multiple individuals and entities from India and Turkey on Wednesday as part of Operation Economic Outcast. The sanctions targeted what Treasury officials described as a global maritime fraud network accused of supporting Iran.

“As we have said many times, under Operation Economic Outcast, you are either with us or against us,” Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in a statement on Wednesday. “We know where you are, and we will sanction those who continue supporting the Iranian regime, whether by land, sea, or air.”

Iranian officials have repeatedly pushed back against the U.S. sanctions imposed under Operation Economic Outcast. Last month, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian called for sanctions to be lifted to allow negotiations to move forward between Washington and Tehran.

“Threats and sanctions must be practically lifted in action, so that the ground for dialogue can be provided,” Pezeshkian wrote in a statement on X.