Washington Imposes New Sanctions on Iran’s SPND Amid Ongoing Nuclear Talks

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The United States has announced an expansion of sanctions targeting Iran’s Organisation of Defensive Innovation and Research (SPND), intensifying pressure on Tehran over its nuclear activities despite ongoing indirect negotiations between the two countries.

In a statement released on Tuesday, 13 May 2025, the U.S. State Department said: “Today, the Department of State is sanctioning three Iranian nationals and one Iranian entity with ties to Iran’s Organization of Defensive Innovation and Research, which is known by its Persian acronym, SPND – the direct successor organization to Iran’s pre-2004 nuclear weapons program, also referred to as the Amad Project. All individuals sanctioned are involved in activities that materially contribute to, or pose a risk of materially contributing to, the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.”

The statement further asserted: “Iran is the only country in the world without nuclear weapons that is producing uranium enriched to 60 percent and it continues to use front companies and procurement agents to obscure its efforts to acquire dual-use items from foreign suppliers.”

According to the statement, these new measures are intended “to delay and degrade the ability of SPND to conduct nuclear weapons research and development,” underscoring Washington’s commitment to preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon. The Department of State described the action as targeting “proliferators of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and their supporters.”

This development comes as U.S. and Iranian officials continue indirect talks regarding Iran’s nuclear programme, the latest round of which took place in Muscat, Oman, last Sunday. U.S. officials described the discussions as “encouraging,” while Iranian representatives characterised them as “difficult but useful.” Omani mediators facilitated the negotiations, with both sides reportedly expressing a willingness to pursue practical solutions.



PUKMEDIA