US Sanctions Chinese, Turkish Firms For Weapons Shipments To Iran's IRGC

Last Updated:June 20, 2025, 20:17 IST

US sanctions reveal how Chinese, Turkish and Singaporean firms masked arms-bound cargo for Iran's IRGC.

An Iranian cleric visits the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Aerospace Force Museum in Tehran, Iran. (IMAGE: REUTERS)

As war between Iran and Israel entered its second week, the United States on Friday announced fresh sanctions on companies and individuals across China, Hong Kong, Turkey and Singapore for helping supply Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) with sensitive machinery linked to its weapons programs.

Among those sanctioned is the Panama-flagged bulk carrier SHUN KAI XING, which was transporting equipment for Iran-based Rayan Roshd Afzar Company (RRA) and Towse Sanaye Nim Resanaye Tarashe. OFAC said the ship was operated by Hong Kong’s Unico Shipping Co Ltd and was involved in an attempt to hide the Iranian recipients of the cargo.

“The United States remains resolved to disrupt any effort by Iran to procure the sensitive, dual-use technology, components, and machinery that underpin the regime’s ballistic missile, unmanned aerial vehicle, and asymmetric weapons programs," said Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, Brian E. Nelson. “We have been clear: those who enable these schemes will be held accountable".

The timing is significant because hours earlier, Israel claimed to have struck dozens of targets inside Tehran, including what it described as a nuclear weapons R&D center and Iran’s Revolutionary Guards retaliated with a fresh wave of drone attacks. The death toll continues to mount with Iran reporting 224 dead and Israel confirming 25 deaths since hostilities began.

Web of Front Companies And False Paperwork

According to the US Treasury, the newly sanctioned firms were involved in supplying or hiding shipments intended for Rayan Roshd Afzar Company (RRA) and Towse Sanaye Nim Resanaye Tarashe. These are two Iranian companies linked to the IRGC’s drone and missile programs. Both were listed as consignees on cargo carried by the SHUN KAI XING, a vessel operated by Hong Kong-based Unico Shipping Co Ltd and Athena Shipping Co Ltd.

After the cargo was inspected and found to be sensitive material headed to Iran, Unico Shipping and others tried to hide the true destination by falsifying shipping documents and removing references to the Iranian companies. Singapore-based V-Shipping Pte Ltd and China’s Shenzhen Xinxin Shipping Co Ltd helped organize the shipments and also took part in efforts to cover up where the cargo was going, despite knowing the consignees were under sanctions.

Zhang Yanbang, a Chinese national who captained the SHUN KAI XING, knowingly submitted fake shipping records, according to OFAC. Turkish firm Edisa Dis Ticaret Limited Sirketi was also sanctioned for helping conceal the cargo’s final recipient by routing it through a previously sanctioned Iranian subsidiary.

Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)

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