Iran
A man walks past a mural painted on the walls of the former US embassy in Tehran on November 4, 2020. Photo: Atta Kenare / AFP
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — The United States announced Iran-related sanctions on Tuesday on a number of companies and individuals, accusing them of providing an Iranian military firm with “sensitive goods”.
“The Iranian regime utilizes a global network of companies to advance its destabilizing military capabilities,” Treasury Secretary Steven T. Mnuchin said in a press release.
“The United States will continue to take action against those who help to support the regime’s militarization and proliferation efforts,” he added.
Six companies and four individuals have been identified responsible for facilitating “the procurement of sensitive goods”, including US-origin electronic components for Iran Communication Industries (ICI), an Iranian military firm banned in the US and Europe.
The firm is owned by Iran’s Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics (MDAFL) which produces electronic warfare, missile launchers, military communication systems and other items.
The sanctions come amid reports that Washington is planning a “flood” of sanctions before US President Donald Trump leaves office in January.
Iran has been hit by a wave of renewed sanctions since 2018, when Trump unilaterally withdrew the US from the Iran nuclear deal agreement reached in 2015. Iran’s oil and petroleum industries were hit with sanctions in late October.
US President-elect Joe Biden has previously said he would commit to entering renegotiations with Iran on the nuclear deal if elected to the White House – but has been rebuffed by Tehran officials.
No contact has been made between Iranian officials and Biden to ease tensions between Tehran and Washington, according to foreign ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh.
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