WASHINGTON — The US Treasury Department on Tuesday announced new sanctions targeting Iran’s weapons supply chain, as Washington and Tehran stepped up diplomatic efforts to end the war.

The department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated 10 individuals and firms across Iran, China, Hong Kong and Pakistan that it said have procured weapons and weapons components for the Iranian Defense Ministry. The sanctioned individuals include the ministry’s representative in Beijing, who OFAC said coordinated the procurement of finished weapons systems and dual-use components in China on Iran’s behalf.

The Treasury Department launched "Operation Economic Outcast" last month, aiming to sever Iran’s financial lifelines after seven months of war. Since then, it has imposed sanctions on banks in Russia, the United Arab Emirates and Turkey with alleged ties to Iran. The department has yet to blacklist any financial institutions in China, Iran’s largest trading partner and purchaser of its oil. 

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent warned in a statement Tuesday that the United States will continue to target those providing “material, technological or financial support” that fuels Iran’s malign activities.