How Iran’s hidden web of military agencies is slipping hardware past the US blockade

A Reuters investigation reveals Iran created a secret network of over 5,000 military agencies to import at least $2 billion in hardware, explosives, and trucks since January 2025, evading the US blockade and sanctions. The network, tied to the IRGC, uses frontmen and shell companies to buy goods from China, Russia, and Germany.

A Reuters investigation has uncovered a secret network of over 5,000 Iranian military agencies, all sharing a Tehran address with the Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics (MODAFL), that has imported at least $2 billion in hardware, explosives, and heavy-duty trucks since January 2025. The network, hidden behind names starting with MOD, evades the US naval blockade and Western sanctions. Some agencies are tied to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and bonyads. One agency, MOD 346428, imported rocket propellants, explosives, and weapons components critical for drones and missiles. The hardware came from China, Russia, and Germany. The investigation is based on thousands of Iranian bank and government records, corporate filings, and import data. Experts confirmed the materials could be used in Iran's missile and drone programs. The US Treasury said it is 'always 10 steps ahead' of evasion attempts. The article notes that none of the numbered agencies appear to have been designated by Western governments.