Iran Nuclear and Mexican Drug Lord Sanctions

The Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced sanctions against five Iran-based entities and one individual for providing support to Iran’s nuclear program.

The action targets suppliers and manufacturers aiding the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) and its subordinate, Iran Centrifuge Technology Company (TESA), pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 13382. The designations align with U.S. policy to deny Iran nuclear weapons capabilities, as articulated in National Security Presidential Memorandum 2.

TESA, which supports uranium enrichment via centrifuge production, is backed by Atbin Ista Technical and Engineering Company (AIT) and Pegah Aluminum Arak Company (Pegah). Majid Mosallat, Chairman and Managing Director of AIT, facilitated component procurement for TESA and was also designated.

Three additional entities—Thorium Power Company (TPC), Pars Reactors Construction and Development Company (Satra Pars), and Azarab Industries Co. (Azarab)—were sanctioned for their affiliations with AEOI. TPC was tasked with thorium reactor development; Satra Pars manages nuclear reactor projects; and Azarab, a general contractor under AEOI control, supplies nuclear equipment.

“El Mochomito”

Separately, OFAC sanctioned Jesus Alfredo Beltran Guzman, a key leader of the Beltran Leyva Organization (BLO), under E.O. 14059. Beltran Guzman, known as “El Mochomito,” plays a central role in trafficking fentanyl, cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamine into the United States. The BLO, among the most violent drug trafficking organizations operating in Mexico, was linked to the record-breaking seizure of over 1,000 kilograms of fentanyl in Sinaloa in December 2024.

In conjunction, the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) released a Financial Trend Analysis identifying patterns in fentanyl-related illicit finance.