WASHINGTON: The United States yesterday blacklisted a number of companies and people under sanctions aimed at Iran’s nuclear programme, US officials said in a statement.
Treasury and State Department officials said the move shows the recent agreement reached in Geneva over Iran “does not, and will not, interfere with our continued efforts to expose and disrupt those supporting Iran’s nuclear programme or seeking to evade our sanctions.”
The move comes as some US lawmakers push to impose further sanctions on Iran. But the Obama administration has so far persuaded them to hold off, saying further action could harm ongoing talks with Iran.
It is the first such enforcement action since the United States and other nations reached a first step agreement with Iran in Geneva last month.
“We will continue relentlessly to enforce our sanctions, even as we explore the possibility of a long-term, comprehensive resolution of our concerns with Iran’s nuclear program,” said David Cohen, the Treasury Department’s under secretary for terrorism and financial intelligence.
Administration officials said yesterday’s action targeted entities that are involved in the proliferation of materials for weapons of mass destruction and have tried to evade the current sanctions.
Officials said yesterday’s targets include companies and individuals engaged in transactions on behalf of other companies that the United States has previously designated under the sanctions. They include Mid Oil Asia, Singa Tankers, Siqiriya Maritime, Ferland Company Limited and Vitaly Sokolenko.
REUTERS
