The United States announced new sanctions on companies and individuals connected to Iran’s Organization of Defensive Innovation of Research (SPND), including scientists who worked on Iran’s nuclear program in the early 2000s. The United States accused Iran of keeping the scientists together as a team so that it would have the necessary expertise to develop a nuclear weapons program in the future. The individuals continue to work on R&D of dual-use technologies, and the listing will restrict them from participating in international conferences and performing research with foreign universities.