New U.S. Sanctions Target Chemical Smuggling Networks to Iran

The U.S. Department of the Treasury announced on Tuesday (April 21, 2026) the imposition of sanctions on 14 individuals and entities in Iran, Turkey, and the UAE for supporting Iran's ballistic missile and drone programs. The sanctions included companies working in smuggling "cotton linters" used in manufacturing rocket fuel, as well as individuals linked to Iranian companies previously targeted by American sanctions. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated that these measures come within the framework of the "Economic Fury" campaign led by President Trump to confront "the Iranian regime's threats to global security." These sanctions are the fifth of their kind since the reimposition of international sanctions on Iran in September 2025.