US Treasury imposes new ballistic missile sanctions on Iran

https://www.rt.com/usa/329240-us-sanctions-iran-ballistic/

The US Treasury says it is imposing new ballistic missile sanctions on Iran after Tehran released five American prisoners. The move also comes less than a day after some of the sanctions imposed on Iran over its nuclear program were removed by the US and EU.
Washington has imposed sanctions on 11 companies and individuals for helping to supply Iran’s ballistic missile program, the Treasury Department stated.

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This file photo taken on September 10, 2013 shows Iranian-American Washington Post correspondent Jason Rezaian and his Iranian wife Yeganeh Salehi. © Str.Washington Post reporter Jason Rezaian & 4 others freed in Iran prisoner swap deal
“Iran’s ballistic missile program poses a significant threat to regional and global security, and it will continue to be subject to international sanctions,” Adam J. Szubin, acting Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, said in a press release.

“We have consistently made clear that the United States will vigorously press sanctions against Iranian activities outside of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action – including those related to Iran’s support for terrorism, regional destabilization, human rights abuses, and ballistic missile program.”

The Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control says it will also block the assets of Mabrooka Trading, a company based in the United Arab Emirates, for providing Iran with parts used in their ballistic missiles. Others sanctioned include companies and individuals involved in the program, which supervised the testing of two ballistic missiles in 2015.

President Barack Obama’s administration delayed implementing the sanctions for more than two weeks, while negotiations to release two US prisoners being held in Iran were taking place, Reuters reported, citing its sources.us-sanctions-iran-ballistic/

These particular sanctions aren't directed at Iran per se, but against various individuals and companies, some of which are located in other countries, that have contributed to Iran's missile program...that's the way it appears at the US Treasury website.

https://www.treasury.gov/press-center/press-releases/Pages/jl0322.aspx

Treasury Sanctions Those Involved in Ballistic Missile Procurement for Iran

1/17/2016

Action Targets 11 Individuals and Entities Responsible for Supporting Iran’s Ballistic Missile Program


WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) today designated 11 entities and individuals involved in procurement on behalf of Iran’s ballistic missile program. OFAC sanctioned Mabrooka Trading Co LLC (Mabrooka Trading) – based in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) – and its China- and UAE-based network that have been involved in procuring goods for Iran’s ballistic missile program. This network obfuscated the end user of sensitive goods for missile proliferation by using front companies in third countries to deceive foreign suppliers. Also designated today are five Iranian individuals who have worked to procure ballistic missile components for Iran. This action is consistent with the U.S. government’s commitment to continue targeting those who assist in Iran’s efforts to procure items for its ballistic missile program.

“Iran’s ballistic missile program poses a significant threat to regional and global security, and it will continue to be subject to international sanctions,” said Adam J. Szubin, acting Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence. “We have consistently made clear that the United States will vigorously press sanctions against Iranian activities outside of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action – including those related to Iran’s support for terrorism, regional destabilization, human rights abuses, and ballistic missile program.”

Hossein Pournaghshband and his company, Mabrooka Trading, are being designated pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 13382 for having provided, or attempting to provide, financial, material, technological, or other support to Navid Composite Material Company (Navid Composite), an entity sanctioned in connection with Iran’s ballistic missile program. Navid Composite was designated in December 2013 pursuant to E.O. 13382 as an Iran-based subsidiary of U.S.- and UN-designated Sanam Industrial Group, an entity sanctioned for its involvement in Iran's ballistic missile program. At the time of its designation, Navid Composite was contracting with Asia-based entities to procure a carbon fiber production line in order to produce carbon fiber probably suitable for use in ballistic missile components. Since at least early 2015, Pournaghshband used his company, Mabrooka Trading, to procure materials and other equipment for Navid Composite’s carbon fiber production plan. Pournaghshband is also being designated today pursuant to E.O. 13382 for having provided, or attempting to provide, financial, material, technological, or other support to Mabrooka Trading.

Chen Mingfu is being designated pursuant to E.O. 13382 for having provided, or attempting to provide, financial, material, technological, or other support to Navid Composite and Mabrooka Trading. Anhui Land Group Co., Limited is also being designated pursuant to E.O. 13382 because it is owned or controlled by Mingfu and for having provided, or attempting to provide, financial, material, technological, or other support to Mabrooka Trading and Pournaghshband. Mingfu brokered deals in support of Mabrooka Trading and Pournaghshband’s efforts to procure materials and equipment for Navid Composite’s carbon fiber production line. Mingfu, using Hong Kong based-Anhui Land Group Co., Limited, provided logistical support to Mabrooka Trading and Navid Composite.

Candid General Trading is being designated pursuant to E.O. 13382 for having provided, or attempting to provide, financial, material, technological, or other support to Mabrooka Trading and Pournaghshband. Rahim Reza Farghadani, the Managing Director of Candid General Trading, is also being designated pursuant to E.O. 13382 for acting for or on behalf of Candid General Trading. Candid General Trading has conducted financial transactions for Mabrooka Trading and Pournaghshband for goods intended for Navid Composite.

Sayyed Javad Musavi is being designated today pursuant to E.O. 13382 because he provided or attempted to provide financial, material, technological, or other support for, or goods or services in support of, the Shahid Hemmat Industrial Group (SHIG). SHIG was identified in the Annex to E.O. 13382 in June 2005 as a subsidiary of Iran’s Aerospace Industries Organization (AIO). AIO, which is subordinate to Iran’s Ministry of Defense for Armed Forces Logistics (MODAFL), manages and coordinates Iran’s ballistic missile program. Musavi is the SHIG commercial director and has worked directly with North Korean officials in Iran from UN- and U.S.-designated Korea Mining Development Trading Corporation (KOMID). SHIG also coordinates KOMID shipments to Iran. The shipments have included valves, electronics, and measuring equipment suitable for use in ground testing of liquid propellant ballistic missiles and space launch vehicles. Within the past several years, Iranian missile technicians from SHIG traveled to North Korea to work on an 80-ton rocket booster being developed by the North Korean government.

Seyed Mirahmad Nooshin, Sayyed Medhi Farahi, and Seyed Mohammad Hashemi are also being designated today. Nooshin, the Director of SHIG, is being designated pursuant to E.O. 13382 for acting or purporting to act for or on behalf of SHIG, and because he provided, or attempted to provide, financial, material, technological, or other support for, or goods or services in support of, SHIG. Farahi, the current Deputy of MODAFL, and Hashemi, an official in MODAFL, are also being designated pursuant to E.O. 13382 for acting or purporting to act for or on behalf of MODAFL, and because they provided, or attempted to provide, financial, material, technological, or other support for, or goods or services in support of, MODAFL. Farahi and Nooshin have been critical to the development of the 80-ton rocket booster, and both traveled to Pyongyang during contract negotiations.

Mehrdada Akhlaghi Ketabachi is being designated today for acting or purporting to act for or on behalf of AIO. Ketabachi is currently the Director of AIO. He was previously designated in 2008 pursuant to E.O. 13382 for acting or purporting to act for or on behalf of Shahid Bakeri Industrial Group, which was identified in the Annex to E.O. 13382 in June 2005 and is involved in Iran’s missile program.

For identifying information regarding today’s action, click here.

When dealing with a country like Iran you can only do what you can do. They released the sailors and their boats in one day (people unharmed and boats intact) along with a few hostages - er, prisoners. To me that's progress, only time will tell whether this treaty will hold long term but it's a good start.

gatorfan wrote:When dealing with a country like Iran you can only do what you can do. They released the sailors and their boats in one day (people unharmed and boats intact) along with a few hostages - er, prisoners. To me that's progress, only time will tell whether this treaty will hold long term but it's a good start.

I'm glad to hear you say that.

ZVUGKTUBM wrote:I suppose the GOP hopefuls will grouse about this move also.........

They groused about the nuclear deal, groused about how we got our 10 sailors back, groused about us releasing $1.7B in Iranian assets--frozen since 1981, groused about Obama's recent securing the release of 3 hostages.

Iran is effectively complying with the nuclear deal in the months since it was compiled. So what else will Republicans grouse about, and what would they have done differently short of starting a war with Iran?

You do realize that there is no signed agreement do you not?

I presume that you also understand that Iran launching not one but two ballistic missiles is a gross violation of the unsigned agreement.

We added interest to the $1.5 TRILLION being released to them for the use of furthering the interests of terrorism. The added interest was for the release of the four hostages plus the seven prisoners we held.

Please share with us, who does the nuclear inspections of the facilities in Iran?

Not to mention the gross misrepresentation (lies) from kerry and obama. They attested that there were anytime anywhere inspections... that there were no side deals... and that all details were fully disclosed to congress... each patently false.

Do leftists ever get tired and fed up with being lied to by their dear leaders? It sure doesn't appear that they do.