US Treasury Department: A Ukrainian firm had supplied drone components to Iran’s military industry
The United States has accused two Ukrainian companies of supplying critical components to an Iranian state-owned defense manufacturer involved in producing military drones.
The US Treasury Department announced the allegations on Wednesday as it imposed new sanctions.
According to the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control, the companies — GK Imperativ and Ekofera — served as fronts for Iranian procurement agents acquiring aerospace parts for the Iran Aircraft Manufacturing Industrial Company (HESA).
HESA is responsible for producing the Shahid-131 and Shahid-136 loitering munitions, which Russia has deployed extensively in its attacks on Ukrainian cities.
The Treasury highlighted HESA’s broader drone portfolio as well, noting the company’s role in developing the Ababil-series unmanned aerial vehicles.
These low-cost drones, which can be used for reconnaissance or strike missions, are regularly employed by groups aligned with Iran, including Hamas, Hezbollah, and Yemen’s Houthi movement.
US officials said GK Imperativ and Ekofera helped Iran secure parts such as attitude indicators — devices that show an aircraft’s orientation — and magnetometers, which are used to detect magnetic fields.
The statement named three Iran-based agents — Bahram Tabibi, Batoul Shafiei, and Saeed Pahlavani Nejad — as key figures who worked with the Ukrainian firms in a procurement network supplying engine, sensors, alternator components, and other materials.
Business listings in Ukraine describe GK Imperativ, founded in 2018 and based in Kharkov, as a company dealing in chemicals and construction materials.
Ekofera, established in 2016 and operating in Kharkov and Kyiv, is listed as a consultancy and intermediary for machinery and wholesale goods.
Attempts by Business Insider to reach both companies were unsuccessful.
The US Treasury placed the firms and the three agents on the US sanctions list under Executive Order 13382, which targets entities involved in the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.
“The United States also expects the international community to fully implement UN snapback sanctions on Iran to cut off its access to the global financial system,” said John Hurley, undersecretary for terrorism and financial intelligence.
The measures were part of a broader announcement targeting 32 individuals and entities across the United Arab Emirates, Iran, Germany, China, Hong Kong, India, and Ukraine for their roles in supporting Iran’s ballistic missile and drone production programs.
While HESA designs the Shahed drones used by Russia, the Kremlin is manufacturing large numbers domestically under the name Geran.
