The "Block the Use of Transatlantic Technology in Iranian Made Drones Act" aims to prevent the export of U.S. and allied technology to Iran that could be used in Iranian unmanned aircraft systems by requiring the development of strategies by the Secretaries of Commerce, State, and Defense.
William Keating
Representative
MA-9
The "Block the Use of Transatlantic Technology in Iranian Made Drones Act" aims to prevent the illegal export of U.S. technologies used in Iranian unmanned aircraft systems. It requires the Secretaries of Commerce, State, and Defense to develop strategies and options to counter Iran's ability to acquire these technologies, focusing on microelectronics and other critical components. These strategies include identifying manufacturers, distributors, and methods of circumventing export controls, as well as synchronizing export controls with U.S. allies. The Act mandates timely updates to U.S. manufacturers and briefings to relevant congressional committees on these efforts.
New Bill Tasks Government Agencies with Blocking U.S. Tech Exports Used in Iranian Drones
This bill, the "Block the Use of Transatlantic Technology in Iranian Made Drones Act," directs key government departments—Commerce, State, and Defense—to figure out how to stop U.S. technology from ending up in unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), or drones, built by Iran. The core goal is to choke off the supply of specific components, particularly advanced microelectronics, that Iran uses to build drones subsequently supplied to groups like Hamas and used by Russia against Ukraine. Each department gets a tight deadline, ranging from 45 to 90 days, to develop and report their strategies or options.
Mapping the Tech Pipeline
The Secretary of Commerce has 60 days to develop a strategy focused on preventing the illegal export of critical U.S. technologies to Iran. This involves identifying not just the specific tech Iran is using (like microcontrollers, GPS modules, and voltage regulators), but also pinpointing the U.S. and foreign manufacturers, and crucially, the third-party distributors or resellers who might be dodging export controls. A key part of this strategy is making sure U.S. manufacturers get timely warnings about these shady middlemen. Think of it as creating a constantly updated map of how these sensitive parts might leak out, so legitimate companies don't inadvertently contribute.
International Team-Up on Export Controls
Recognizing that this isn't just a U.S. problem, the Secretary of State gets 90 days to craft a parallel strategy. This one focuses on getting U.S. allies on the same page. The plan is to identify foreign manufacturers of the targeted technologies and work with allied governments to synchronize their export controls with the U.S. efforts developed by Commerce. It’s an attempt to build a more unified international front against the diversion of technology, acknowledging that these components move through a global marketplace.
Military Options for Countering Acquisition
Beyond just blocking exports, the Secretary of Defense is tasked with developing options for the U.S. Armed Forces to actively counter Iran's ability to acquire the necessary technology. This includes the same microelectronics plus things like Computer Aided Design (CAD) software and computer numerical control (CNC) machines used in manufacturing. The Pentagon has 45 days to brief congressional committees on these potential military or intelligence options. This part signals a potentially more direct approach to disrupting Iran's drone production capabilities, complementing the export control strategies.