Payam Javan: The U.S. State Department announced a new round of sanctions against Iran’s nuclear program on Wednesday, following United Nations measures introduced last week. The sanctions focus on five individuals and one technology firm tied to the Iranian Organization of Defensive Innovation and Research (SPND), the body overseeing Tehran’s nuclear development. Despite U.S. strikes on several key nuclear facilities, Iran has continued pursuing uranium enrichment and nuclear advancements.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that the United States is implementing “snapback sanctions” against Iran, targeting 44 actors linked to nuclear, missile, and military projects. Among those sanctioned is Reza Mozaffarinia, SPND’s current director, who has previously faced Treasury Department restrictions under the Obama administration. Several other nuclear scientists were also named for their roles in advancing Iran’s program across multiple scientific disciplines.

Additionally, the firm Andisheh Damavand International Technologies was sanctioned for allegedly transporting Iranian scientists to Russia to obtain materials for nuclear use. Its CEO, Ali Kalvand, was also penalized for procuring foreign resources intended for nuclear devices. Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, however, has remained defiant, insisting that the country’s nuclear program has reached “advanced levels of uranium enrichment.”