US Needs to Better Use Sanctions, Export Controls to Target Iran for Russian Support, Lawmaker Says

The Biden administration should “make full use” of its sanctions and export control authorities against Iran for transferring weapons and other military items to Russia, the ranking Republican on the House Foreign Affairs Committee said in a Nov. 1 letter to the White House. Rep. Michael McCaul of Texas said Iran has sent hundreds of “lethal Mohajer-6 and Shahed-136 drones, as well as related technology and military advisors” to Russia since it invaded Ukraine, and is reportedly preparing to provide “Fateh-100 and Zolfaghar” ballistic missiles.

“This would represent a serious and dangerous escalation with respect to Iran’s complicity in Russia’s illegal war and threaten to stall Ukrainian successes just as the Kremlin appears to be at a breaking point,” he said. “I am alarmed that despite our commitment to prevent and prohibit Iranian weapons proliferation, as reaffirmed in my Stop Iranian Drones Act, your administration has thus far failed to make full use of its authorities to deter, degrade, and prohibit Iranian arms transfers.”

And while the U.S. has designated Boeing 747s operated by Mahan Air, Qeshm Fars Air and Iran Air for violating U.S. export controls, the same planes “continue to operate freely in countries around the world, including countries in Europe, as they ferry weapons and restricted technology to Russia, Ethiopia, Syria and elsewhere,” McCaul said. “I urge your administration to appeal to these countries to join the U.S. in imposing sanctions on these aircraft for contributing to the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and supporting terrorism.” The White House didn’t comment.