The Trump Administration imposes new sanctions on three senior Iranian officials and a company for links to Iran's nuclear weapons manufacturing program

The U.S. State Department on Monday announced sanctions against three Iranian nationals and an Iranian entity linked to the Iranian Defensive Research and Innovation Organization (SPND), pointed to as the direct successor to Iran's pre-2004 nuclear weapons program, known as Project Amad.

The measures, taken under Executive Order 13382, seek to counter the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their support systems.

The Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, communicated the decision through his X account, where he stated, "Today we are sanctioning Iranian nationals contributing to nuclear weapons-relevant research and development. Our actions are part of @POTUS’s call for maximum pressure against Iran’s proliferation activities and to ensure Tehran is never able to obtain a nuclear weapon.”

According to the State Department's official statement, the sanctioned individuals are engaged in activities that significantly contribute, or pose a risk of contributing, to the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.

The sanctioned entity is directly associated with SPND, which, according to the U.S., conducts research and development of dual-use items applicable to nuclear weapons and delivery systems for such weapons.

The State Department noted that Iran has "substantially" expanded its nuclear program, including the production of 60% enriched uranium, a level that no non-nuclear-weapon country currently produces.

It further accused Iran of using "front companies and procurement agents” to procure dual-use items from foreign suppliers, concealing their true purposes.

The sanctions are intended to delay and degrade the SPND's ability to advance nuclear weapons research and development, reaffirming the U.S. commitment to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.

Those sanctioned

The State Department also released in another official communication the measures and those sanctioned.

Sayyed Mohammad Reza Seddighi Saber is the head of Iran’s Organization of Defensive Innovation and Research’s (also known by its Persian acronym, SPND) Shahid Karimi Group, a group that works on explosives-related projects. Seddighi Saber is linked to projects including research and testing applicable to the development of nuclear explosive devices.

Ahmad Haghighat Talab is an SPND senior official and a nuclear scientist who was previously involved in Iran’s pre-2004 weapons program, the Amad Project. Talab continues to use his scientific expertise to advance Iran’s nuclear-related research and development efforts that have potential military applications. As an SPND senior official, Talab also coordinates with Iranian researchers who work on nuclear research with dual-use purposes.

Mohammed Reza Mehdipur is a longtime SPND-affiliated official who has been involved in explosion and shock research on behalf of SPND. Mehdipur was appointed as head of SPND’s Shahid Chamran Group, which has conducted nuclear-related research. As a longtime explosives and nuclear researcher, Mehdipur has supported SPND’s nuclear and explosives research and development efforts, including those with potential military applications.

Fuya Pars Prospective Technologists, also known as Ideal Vacuum, is an SPND-affiliated company that has attempted to procure from foreign suppliers, as well as indigenously fabricate, equipment that could be applicable in nuclear weapons research and development.

This action is part of a broader strategy of "maximum pressure" to limit Iranian proliferation activities.