U.S. Sanctions Russia, China, Turkey Firms Over Iran Trade

Date: 26 February 2020 - 22:21

News ID: ۷۶۶۲۱

WASHINGTON (Dispatches) -- The United States has announced sanctions on 13 foreign entities and individuals in Russia and other countries for allegedly supporting Iran’s missile program.
The State Department said the action placed new sanctions on three Chinese firms, a Chinese individual and a Turkish company. It did not identify which entities and individuals in Iraq and Russia faced the sanctions, which include restrictions on U.S. government procurement, U.S. government assistance and exports.
Baoding Shimaotong Enterprises Services, Gaobeidian Kaituo Precise Instrument and Wuhan Sanjiang Import and Export were named as the Chinese companies and Eren Carbon Graphite Industrial Trading as the Turkish company sanctioned for allegedly supporting Iran’s missile program.
The statement said the measures were the result of a periodic review required under the Iran, North Korea and Syria Nonproliferation Act (INKSNA).
"The imposition of these measures underscores that Iran’s missile program remains a significant proliferation concern,” the statement claims.
The sanctions are "consistent with our efforts to use all available measures to prevent Iran from advancing its missile capabilities,” it added.
Unlike Washington’s claims, Iran’s missile capabilities are inclusively indigenous and do not rely on foreign assistance. Tehran says the program is defensive in nature, developed with the aim of deterring Iran’s enemies from any aggression.
Russia views the latest wave of economic restrictions related to Iran’s missile program "illegitimate,” an unnamed Foreign Ministry source told the RIA Novosti news agency Wednesday.