U.S. Imposes Sanctions on Venezuelan and Iranian Companies Over Combat Drone Network Linked to the Maduro Regime
The United States government announced on Tuesday a new package of economic sanctions targeting a network of companies and individuals in Venezuela and Iran involved in the commercialization and manufacture of military drones and related technology.
The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) of the U.S. Department of the Treasury announced the measure, which affects 10 entities and individuals for their alleged role in the proliferation of combat unmanned aerial systems (UAVs) between Tehran and Caracas—an activity that, according to Washington, poses a threat to regional security and U.S. interests in the Western Hemisphere.
Among those sanctioned is Empresa Aeronáutica Nacional S.A. (EANSA), a Venezuelan state-owned manufacturer based in Maracay (Aragua state), and its president, José Jesús Urdaneta González. U.S. authorities accuse them of participating in the assembly and transfer of Iranian-designed drones for use by the Venezuelan armed forces.
Washington states that these unmanned aerial vehicles, originally from the Mohajer series—developed by the Iranian state-owned company Qods Aviation Industries—have been assembled in Venezuela and commercialized at a value of millions of dollars.
Some versions, such as the Mohajer-2 (locally known as the ANSU-100), are capable of carrying Iranian-designed guided bombs, expanding their use beyond surveillance and intelligence-gathering missions.
According to the official Treasury statement, the sanctions are not limited to the Venezuelan company. They also include Iran-based individuals and entities linked to the procurement of chemicals for ballistic missile production, as well as other companies associated with Iran’s military-industrial complex.
These measures prevent those sanctioned from accessing the U.S. financial system and prohibit transactions with U.S. persons.
U.S. authorities have indicated that this action is part of their “maximum pressure” strategy against Iran and its international allies, aimed at curbing the proliferation of lethal weapons and limiting military cooperation between Caracas and Tehran—both considered adversaries by Washington.
The sanctions imposed by the United States on Venezuela and Iran highlight the growing tension between Washington and the regime of Nicolás Maduro, as well as the U.S. approach toward Tehran and its military expansion.
Such actions do not go unnoticed: they represent a clear attempt to preserve regional security, counter the influence of authoritarian dictatorships, and expose the risks associated with the proliferation of advanced weapons systems outside international regulatory frameworks.
At a time when the geopolitical balance in Hispanic America faces both external and internal pressures, these sanctions serve as a reminder that the Venezuelan regime’s strategic alliances and its ties to authoritarian governments can carry deep economic and diplomatic consequences—especially for a country struggling for democratic stability and openness to the world.
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