US Sanctions Venezuelan EANSA Drones 2025: Targeting Iran-Caracas Military Axis

Washington's dual-front tension is boiling over as drones fill the skies and sanctions hit the ground. On December 30, 2025, the US Treasury Department issued new penalties against Empresa Aeronautica Nacional SA (EANSA), a Venezuelan state-owned firm accused of assembling and maintaining Iranian-designed drones. It's a clear signal that the Trump administration is doubling down on its confrontation with both Tehran and Caracas.

US Sanctions Venezuelan EANSA Drones 2025: The Network Exposed

The Treasury's action targets the infrastructure supporting Qods Aviation Industries, an Iranian entity already under heavy fire from US sanctions. Alongside the company, its chairman, Jose Jesus Urdaneta Gonzalez, was personally designated for coordinating with military officials from both nations to facilitate UAV production on South American soil. This move freezes all US-based assets of the targeted parties.

Escalation on Multiple Fronts

This week's sanctions didn't happen in a vacuum. Yesterday, President Donald Trump explicitly threatened further military strikes against Iran if it attempts to rebuild its nuclear or missile capabilities. Meanwhile, in the Caribbean, the US has initiated a naval blockade against Venezuela, seizing at least two oil tankers recently. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian responded sharply, calling any aggression "regrettable."

• Target: EANSA (Venezuela) and Jose Jesus Urdaneta Gonzalez
• Allegation: Production and maintenance of Iranian-designed drones
• Status: Assets frozen, financial transactions prohibited for US citizens