U.S. sanctions entities in the Middle East and China for helping Iran
A huge artwork banner newly hung in the corner of Vali Asr Square depicts Iranian missiles with messages addressed to schoolgirls from Minab and the victims of Epstein Island in Tehran, Iran, on March 17, 2026. =
Kaveh Kazemi | Getty Images
The United States has imposed sanctions on companies and individuals in the Middle East and China for allegedly aiding Iran in its war efforts, the State Department said.
The moves targeted 11 organizations and three individuals based in Iran, China, Belarus and the United Arab Emirates, the ministry said in a statement late Friday.
“Today’s actions include several China-based entities that provide satellite imagery to enable Iran’s military strikes against U.S. forces in the Middle East,” Secretary of State Marco Rubio said. he said. expression.
“In addition, we are identifying organizations and individuals that facilitate the Iranian military’s efforts to secure weapons as well as raw materials related to applications in Iran’s ballistic missile and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) programs,” Rubio said. he said.
Rubio said Friday that he expected a response from Iran that day to the U.S. proposal to end the war.
Iran said on Thursday it was reviewing messages received from the United States through Pakistani mediators but had not yet reached a conclusion or responded, Iranian state media reported, citing an Iranian official.
Axios and other news outlets reported earlier this week that the countries were nearing a 14-point memorandum of understanding to end the war and restart negotiations on Iran’s nuclear program.
Rubio’s comments come amid confusion over whether the ceasefire between Iran and the United States is still in effect; because both of them accused the other of launching an attack by opening fire in the Strait of Hormuz.
President Donald Trump insisted Thursday that the ceasefire was still in effect, calling the attacks “just a love tap.” Trump also said the Iranians “very much want to make a deal.”
“Overnight, we saw a report that Iran had established or was trying to establish an agency to control traffic in the straits. That would happen. [a] problem. This is actually unacceptable,” Rubio said on Friday.
The blockade of the narrow waterway, which normally carries about a fifth of the global oil supply, has caused a global energy shock. The International Energy Agency called the situation “the greatest energy security threat in history.”
— CNBC’s Elsa Ohlen and Kevin Breuninger contributed to this report.
