WASHINGTON: The United States on Thursday issued further sanctions on Iran, targeting the sale of Iranian drones and commodities, including Russia’s use of Iranian drones in the war in Ukraine, as Washington seeks to ratchet up pressure on Tehran.

The US Treasury Department in a statement said the action, taken in coordination with the United Kingdom and Canada, targets over one dozen entities, individuals and vessels it accused of playing a key role in facilitating and financing the clandestine sale of Iranian unmanned aerial vehicles to the Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics, which Washington said supports Iran’s elite Revolutionary Guards and Russia’s war in Ukraine.

Washington also targeted two companies and a vessel involved in the shipment of Iranian commodities, the Treasury said.

“Iran’s Ministry of Defense continues to destabilize the region and world with its support to Russia’s war in Ukraine, unprecedented attack on Israel, and proliferation of UAVs and other dangerous military hardware to terrorist proxies,” Treasury’s Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, Brian Nelson, said.

“The United States, in close coordination with our British and Canadian partners, will continue to use all means available to combat those who would finance Iran’s destabilizing activities.”