US sanctions 13 Iran-Belarus-China entities supplying Iran’s IRGC. That’s three of four “Axis of Upheaval” states

The US imposed sanctions on 13 individuals and entities from Iran, Belarus, and China for facilitating weapons procurement for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), State Department spokesperson Thomas Pigott announces. The designations aim to implement the UN sanctions regime on Iran, which was reinstated due to Tehran's "significant non-performance" with its nuclear obligations.

Iran has been the primary supplier of Shahed-type drones used by Russia against Ukraine since 2022, with Russian-produced Geran-4 jet variants now reaching speeds of 500 km/h based on Iranian designs.

Belarus has served as a launch territory and signal-relay base for Russian drones targeting Ukraine.

China has been a key supplier of dual-use components, electronics, and materials. 

13 designations across three jurisdictions — Iran, Belarus, China

The State Department statement describes the network as supplying conventional arms to the IRGC. This is in violation of the UN Security Council resolution that obligates UN members to prevent the supply, sale, or transfer of conventional weapons to Iran.

The US said the designations are part of its continuing maximum pressure policy on Iran. The policy is designed to deprive the Iranian government and the IRGC of access to resources.

Why analysts call this "Axis of Upheaval"

In April 2024, foreign policy scholars Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Richard Fontaine published a Foreign Affairs analysis titled "The Axis of Upheaval: How America's Adversaries Are Uniting to Overturn the Global Order."

The analysis argued that Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea have deepened cooperation across defense industry, intelligence, diplomatic, and financial channels to challenge "the US-based order".

US sanctions targeting the Iran-Belarus-China network supplying the IRGC explicitly address three of the four Axis of Upheaval members.

North Korea has separately supplied Russia with artillery shells, missiles, and troops since 2024.