Washington has imposed sanctions on Nigeria-based Vanguard Tactical Supply Limited over alleged efforts to support Iran’s acquisition of man-portable air-defense systems, or MANPADS. The measures also target Mohammed Ali Tolibov, chief executive of Belarus-based Armoury Alliance, and Alisher Domullodzhanov, who is based in Russia. US authorities said the company and the two men were involved in efforts to obtain Chinese-made MANPADS, including QW- and FN-series missiles, acting as brokers and using fraudulent end-user declarations. The State Department said the designations form part of Operation Economic Outcast and represent the latest in a wider campaign against Iranian weapons-procurement networks. They follow sanctions announced on May 8, June 10 and July 15, 2026, which US officials said have raised the difficulty and expense of Tehran’s rearmament efforts while supporting UN curbs reinstated in September 2025. Washington again said Iran’s military purchasing activity poses a threat to US national security and pledged to hold Iran’s leadership accountable. “Anyone who helps the regime build its arsenal should expect to be held accountable,” the Trump administration said. MANPADS are portable, shoulder-fired guided surface-to-air missiles that can be operated by an individual soldier or a small team to strike low-altitude aircraft, helicopters, drones and cruise missiles. Iran is reportedly seeking to buy hundreds of Chinese-produced systems to improve its low-level air defenses against aircraft and drones, although Chinese officials have challenged those reports. Separately, Moscow and Tehran are discussing possible transfers of advanced S-400 air-defense equipment, drone components and MANPADS to Iran. Iran’s National Security Council Secretary Mohsen Rezaei reportedly presented the request to President Vladimir Putin at a Kremlin meeting on Thursday. The discussions also addressed ongoing Russian shipments of fiber-optic drone parts and Verba MANPADS under a €495 million agreement signed in December 2025, covering 500 launchers and 2,500 missiles intended to restore Iran’s air-defense capabilities.
