US imposes more sanctions on Iran in Trump’s last days
The US imposed sanctions on nine Iranian entities and people, focusing on conventional arms proliferation, five days before the end of the Trump administration.
Secretary State Mike Pompeo announced the sanctions on Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines (IRISL) and other Iranian entities for their activities related to conventional arms proliferation.
The sanctions were instituted on Friday under Executive Order 13949, signed by President Donald Trump in September. It allows the US the means to go after arms transfers by Iran “that fuel ongoing conflict in Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, Yemen and elsewhere”.
Those designated on Friday are Iran’s Marine Industries Organisation, Aerospace Industries Organisation and the Iran Aviation Industries Organisation “for engaging in activities that materially contribute to the supply, sale or transfer, directly or indirectly, to or from Iran, or for the use in or benefit of Iran of arms or related materiel, including spare parts”.
Designated along with IRISL are Hoopad Darya Shipping Agency Company; Jiangyin Mascot Special Steel Co, based in China; Iran Transfo Co; Zangan Distribution Transformer Co and Accenture Building Materials.
The State Department placed sanctions on Hamidreza Azimian, chief executive of Mobarakeh Steel Co, and Mohammad Reza Modarres Khiabani, chief executive of IRISL, for their role in these matters.
The Trump administration is increasing its non-nuclear sanctions on Iran before its departure on Wednesday, making it more difficult for the incoming Biden administration to remove those penalties in any rapprochement with Tehran.