Supporting Snapback of UN Sanctions on Iran with Additional Sanctions and Export Controls

Today, the Department of State is sanctioning five individuals and one entity connected to Iran's Organization of Defensive Innovation and Research, (also known by its Persian acronym SPND), which is the direct successor to Iran's pre-2004 nuclear weapon program.  These actions follow the Department's sanctions of three Iranian officials and one entity in May 2025 linked to Iranian nuclear-related research with potential military applications.

These sanctions actions demonstrate Iran's continuing attempts to procure components and technologies in support of its proliferation activities that threaten U.S. and regional security.  Iran's proliferation activities highlighted today emphasize the importance of the re-imposition of sanctions and other restrictions pursuant to UN Security Council resolutions 1696, 1737, 1747, 1803, 1835, and 1929 on September 27 in response to Iran's "significant non-performance" of its nuclear commitments. 

The United States, as directed in the President's National Security Presidential Memorandum 2 from February 4, is committed to denying Iran all paths to a nuclear weapon and we will not hesitate to hold accountable non-Iranian entities that contribute to or otherwise support Tehran's proliferation programs in violation of UN restrictions. 

All Department of State targets are being designated pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 13382, which targets proliferators of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and their supporters. 

The Department is designating the following entity and individuals pursuant to section 1(a)(ii) of E.O. 13382 for having engaged, or attempted to engage, in activities or transactions that have materially contributed to, or pose a risk of materially contributing to, the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction or their means of delivery (including missiles capable of delivering such weapons), including any efforts to manufacture, acquire, possess, develop, transport, transfer or use such items, by any person or foreign country of proliferation concern: 

• Reza Mozaffarinia is the current Director of SPND. As the Director of SPND, Mozaffarinia has overseen SPND's efforts to develop sensitive technologies with potential nuclear weapons applications and acquire dual-use equipment to support SPND's efforts. Mozaffarinia was previously designated by the Department of the Treasury on May 23, 2013 pursuant to E.O. 13382 for acting for or on behalf of MODAFL. On August 29, 2014, the Department of State designated SPND pursuant to E.O. 13382 for engaging in or attempting to engage in activities that have materially contributed to, or posed a risk of materially contributing to, the proliferation of WMD or their means of delivery.
• Ali Fuladvand serves as the Head of the Research Directorate at SPND. In this role, Fuladvand has facilitated and directed SPND's efforts to obtain and advance sensitive dual-use technologies and technical expertise that can be applied to nuclear weapons development.
• Mohammad Reza Ghadir Zare Zaghalchi is a longtime SPND-affiliated official who has recently been appointed as head of U.S.-designated Shahid Fakhar Moghaddam Group (SFMG), an SPND-subordinate group with expertise in radiation detection and neutron behavior. Zaghalchi has supported efforts to procure sensitive dual- use equipment and technologies with direct applications to nuclear weapons development. On March 22, 2019, the Department of the Treasury designated SFMG pursuant to E.O. 13382 for being owned or controlled by, or acting or purporting to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, SPND.
• Andisheh Damavand International Technologies (DamavandTec) is an Iranian company that has facilitated travel for Iranian nuclear experts to Russia to pursue sensitive dual-use technologies and expertise and supported efforts to acquire advanced dual-use equipment. These technologies and capabilities could be applicable in nuclear weapons development.

• Ali Kalvand is the CEO and Director of SPND cover company DamavandTec who, on behalf of SPND, has attempted to procure items applicable to the development of nuclear explosive devices from foreign suppliers.

• Ali Bakouei is an SPND affiliate, head of the department of atomic and molecular physics at Tarbiat Modares University, and Chair of DamavandTec. On behalf of SPND, he has attempted to procure items applicable to the development of nuclear explosive devices from foreign suppliers.

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