The United States has imposed new sanctions on an Iranian research group, citing concerns over its involvement in nuclear proliferation activities. The designations, made by the Department of State, target four individuals and one company for their roles in developing nuclear-related technologies with potential military applications.
Sayyed Mohammad Reza Seddighi Saber, head of Iran’s Organization of Defensive Innovation and Research’s (SPND) Shahid Karimi Group, is among those targeted. His group works on explosives-related projects, including research and testing applicable to the development of nuclear explosive devices. The designation of Saber and his colleagues raises concerns about Iran’s commitment to reducing its nuclear stockpile.
Ahmad Haghighat Talab, a senior official at SPND and a nuclear scientist, was also designated for his involvement in Iran’s pre-2004 weapons program. As an SPND senior official, Talab coordinates with Iranian researchers working on nuclear research with dual-use purposes, further fueling concerns about the country’s nuclear ambitions.
Additionally, Mohammed Reza Mehdipur, a longtime SPND-affiliated official, has been linked to explosion and shock research projects with potential military applications. Fuya Pars Prospective Technologists (Ideal Vacuum), an SPND-affiliated company, has also been targeted for its attempts to procure foreign equipment for nuclear weapons research and development.
The sanctions are part of the Department of State’s efforts to prevent the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. The designations are made pursuant to Executive Order 13382, which targets individuals and entities that engage in activities or transactions that contribute to the proliferation of these weapons.
The imposition of these new sanctions highlights the ongoing tensions between the United States and Iran over nuclear proliferation concerns. The designation of these individuals and entities underscores the Administration’s commitment to preventing the spread of nuclear technologies with potential military applications.
Arms Control and Nonproliferation, Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs, Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation, Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs, Division for Counter Threat Finance and Sanctions, Iran, Nuclear Weapons, Office of the Spokesperson, Proliferation, Sanctions and Designations, Security and Defense