The US on Friday blacklisted 26 companies from Pakistan, Iran and other countries for their alleged involvement in weapons of mass destructions. The companies reportedly broke United States export regulations, violating the sanctions against Russia due to its activities in Ukraine.

The USA Department of Commerce, which manages export control said the companies were supporting “malign weapons programs” or enabling Russian and Iranian circumvention/deceptive practices. They are now restricted from buying USA goods and technology without seeking approval, although it is perhaps a broader bar than that.

Of the named companies, nine are in Pakistan and were accused of being front organizations or procurement agents for Pakistan’s ballistic missile program. Seven other Pakistani entities are similarly listed as having a hand in this missile work.

The Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security revealed that these companies have been misleading their suppliers to acquire United States technology since 2010.

China, another key player in this blacklist, has six companies included for allegedly aiding China’s military modernization or supporting Iran’s drone programs. Meanwhile, three firms from the United Arab Emirates and one from Egypt were penalized for trying to evade United States sanctions following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

In contrast, the USA Department of Commerce removed Canadian company Sandvine from the blacklist. Initially blacklisted in February 2024 for its technology’s misuse in widespread web monitoring and censorship, Sandvine was removed after it implemented corrective measures to prevent the misuse of its products.

The latest actions underscore the USA commitment to protecting national security and enforcing export controls. Commerce Secretary Alan Estevez emphasized that those violating USA control measures would face consequences. These sanctions send a strong signal that non-compliance with USA regulations will not be tolerated.

According to the department, this was done starting in 2010 when these companies began deceiving their suppliers about what products they were actually buying technology for.

China, who is also heavily targeted with this blacklist, has some six companies listed for reportedly assisting Chinese military modernization or Iranian drone development initiatives. Similarly, USA sanctions were imposed on three firms from the UAE and one in Egypt for attempting to circumvent them related to a Russian invasion of Ukraine last year.

The United States Department of Commerce, by comparison., did not include a Canadian company—Sandvine—on the blacklist. Sanvine was initially blacklisted in February 2024 because its technology could be used for widespread surveillance and censure ship, access to which has not been granted again since it undertook steps that would prevent improper use of their products.

The new measures are part of a broad campaign by the United States to secure United States national security interests through enforcement of export controls. Those failing to comply with United States control measures would be “held accountable,” Commerce Secretary Alan Estevez stressed.

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