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On Friday, the United States imposed new sanctions on networks connected to Iran, intensifying pressure over Iran’s nuclear program, its backing to terrorism and evasion of international and US sanctions.
The new sanctions expanded the international sanctions already imposed on Iran despite a temporary lift of sanctions in exchange for the suspension of some of Iran’s nuclear activities.
“Today we took additional steps in our effort to maintain pressure on the government of Iran”, Caitlin Hayden, spokeswoman for the White House’s National Security Council, said.
“The United States remains committed to working with our P5+1 partners toward a long-term, comprehensive solution that provides confidence that Iran’s nuclear program is exclusively peaceful”, the NSC spokeswoman said.
The P5+1 nations, China, France, the United States, Britain and Germany plus Russia, extended the interim agreement to November 24th to allow time for negotiating a final deal. Tehran denies that it will make nuclear weapons, and both parties remain split on the permissible limits of nuclear uranium enrichments in Iran.
The Treasury announced that over 25 sanctions will be imposed on individuals, shipping companies, banks, airlines, oil companies and other entities.
Asia Bank, one of the banks being targeted, has provided US dollar notes to Iran, including a delivery in 2014 from Moscow to Tehran worth more than $13 million, in violation of the US sanctions. Tehran has used Iranian government-owned airliner Meraj Air and Iran-based Caspian Air to move illicit cargo, including weapons to regime troops.
Pouya Air was identified as an alias used by Yas Air, an airliner already sanctioned by the US – it was used transport weapons and illicit cargo to “Iran’s clients in the Levant”.
Iran’s efforts to avoid sanctions on sale of oil were also targeted, with designations including Nefertiti Shipping and Faylaca Petroleum.
“Treasury’s action against over 25 entities and individuals — who are involved in expanding Iran’s proliferation program, supporting terrorism in the region, and helping Iran evade U.S. and international sanctions — reflects our continuing determination to take action against anyone, anywhere, who violates our sanctions”, the Treasury’s undersecretary for terrorism and financial intelligence, said.
