DUSHANBE, August 30, 2014, Asia-Plus – The United States is continuing to enforce sanctions on Iran.
On August 29, the United Sates slapped fresh sanctions on more than 30 Iranian individuals and entities for allegedly supporting Tehran’s nuclear program, violating existing sanctions or supporting terrorism.
The measures, taken under an array of authorities granted to the U.S. Treasury Department and State Department, reportedly target Iranian banks, airlines and others.
Among them is Tajikistan-based Kafolatbank, which is owned by the Iranian financial institution, Sarmayeh Bank, the United States named in July 2012.
Wall Street Journal
reports the U.S. Treasury Department also identified five banks as Iranian financial institutions, thereby blocking them. It named two privately owned banks, Khavarmianeh Bank and Ghavamin Bank, as well as Gharzolhasaneh Resalat Bank, which Treasury called “an Iranian financial institution.” In addition, Treasury identified Kish International Bank, which is 55% owned by the Iranian government.
Among those targeted Friday was also Asia Bank, a Moscow-based Iranian-owned bank that Treasury said has provided support to Iran’s central bank and blacklisted Iranian banks. Asia Bank, in mid-2014, converted and facilitated the delivery from Moscow to Tehran of U.S. dollar banknotes valued at more than $13 million to Iranian government representatives, the U.S. Treasury Department said.
Under its counter-terrorism sanctions authority, the U.S. Treasury Department said it placed sanctions on Meraj Air, an Iranian government airline it said has been used to ferry illicit cargo from Tehran to the Syrian government since 2013, and on Caspian Air, an Iran-based airline that it said provides support to elements of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps by moving personnel and illicit material from Iran to Syria. It also placed sanctions on Sayyed Jabar Hosseini, the managing director of Liner Transport Kish, which was placed under sanctions in 2010; Mr. Hosseini, Treasury said, coordinated Iranian shipments across the Levant, as well as to Sudan.
The U.S. Treasury Department also targeted Turkey-based Pioneer Logistics and Thailand-based Asian Aviation Logistics for being front companies of Mahan Air, which was placed under sanctions in October 2011. And it identified Pouya Air as an alias for Yas Air, an airline targeted by the U.S. in March 2012.
Among those targeted by the U.S. State Department were Goldentex FZE, a United Arab Emirates-based company it said was involved in providing support to Iran’s shipping sector, and Italy-based Dettin SpA, which the U.S. said supported the Iranian petrochemical industry.
The sanctions reportedly prohibit transacting with those designated for sanctions, and block their U.S. assets and property.
The U.S. Department of State said these actions underscore US resolve to enforce sanctions as the P5+1 and Iran work toward a comprehensive solution to address the international community”s concerns over Iran”s nuclear program.
P5+ 1 comprises of the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) United States, Russia, China, United Kingdom, France, plus Germany.
As part of the JPOA, which was extended in July, the P5+1 committed to providing Iran with limited, temporary, and targeted sanctions relief in return for important steps the Islamic state took to constrain its nuclear program.
