Mehrdad Akhlaghi Ketabchi contributed to developing Iranian ballistic missile programs including Sejjil, Zolfaghar, Almas missiles, Yasin guided bombs, and the Imam Khomeini Space Center

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Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with U.S. defense contractor Lockheed Martin to discuss accelerating and expanding the supply of Patriot interceptor missiles and F-16 components to Ukraine

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio commended progress in bilateral defense and civil nuclear cooperation with India and advocated for increased Indian purchases of U.S. defense systems

South Korea has emerged as a major arms exporter since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in early 2022, including through a multibillion-dollar arms deal with Poland

South Korea has refrained from providing lethal weapons directly to Ukraine, citing its policy against arming nations involved in active military conflicts

South Korea's intelligence agency stated that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy may have revealed the North Korean prisoner transfer to encourage South Korea to supply lethal arms to Ukraine

On Friday, October 16, 2026, the United States urged the UN Security Council to expand an arms embargo on Sudan, which China and Russia opposed.

Iran's Defence Ministry spokesman Brigadier General Reza Talaei-Nik stated that Mehrdad Akhlaghi Ketabchi's appointment reflects Iran's strategy to expand offensive weapons, including missiles and drones

Western governments should impose a complete arms embargo on Israel

Latvian drone manufacturer Origin Robotics produces drones that are deployed by Ukraine's military on the battlefield.

Saudi-led coalition spokesperson Turki Al-Maliki stated that Houthi forces obtained advanced technologies, including ballistic missiles and attack drones, with assistance from regional actors

The United States should link arms sales to Taiwan with energy procurement commitments

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas stated that over half of the new sanctions listings connect directly to the production chain for Russian ballistic missiles.

Targeted suppliers provide key components for Russian military systems, including semiconductors, microchips, radar equipment, specialized optics, explosives, and ammunition.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha welcomed the sanctions on October 12, 2026, noting that over half target Russian ballistic missile manufacturing.

The October 12, 2026 EU sanctions specifically target manufacturers involved in developing missile fuel, engines, and specialized carbon fibers used in Russian missile systems.

During the Egyptian military's June 2026 border campaign against illegal mining and arms smuggling, the Egyptian military detained 223 people, including 136 foreign nationals, and seized 86 tonnes of gold ore

China used its veto power and UN Security Council standing to oppose expanding the Darfur arms embargo nationwide, advocating to keep sanctions limited to Darfur

Security Council members including the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Liberia, Pakistan, and Somalia joined China and Russia in resisting a nationwide Sudan arms embargo

US adviser Massad Boulos and UN Ambassador Mike Waltz proposed expanding the UN arms embargo across all of Sudan to target drone suppliers, arms traffickers, mercenary recruiters, and war financiers

The UN Security Council originally established the Darfur sanctions regime under Resolution 1591 in 2005, introducing an arms embargo on armed actors alongside travel bans and asset freezes