US increases sanctions against Iran and its proliferation networks

Today the United States has increased sanctions against the government of Iran and it proliferation networks. Treasury and State Department actions have targeted more than 50 entities tied to Iran's procurment, petroleum and shipping networks.

The actions were taken in order to increase pressure on Iran to engage seriously and address the international community’s concerns about its nuclear program.

“Iran today is under intense, multilateral sanctions pressure, and we will continue to ratchet up the pressure so long as Iran refuses to address the international community’s well-founded concerns about its nuclear program,” said Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence David S. Cohen. “Today’s actions are our next step on that path, taking direct aim at disrupting Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs as well as its deceptive efforts to use front companies to sell and move its oil.”

To this end the State Department's Office of the Spokesman released a fact sheet to outline the additional sanctions and the entities targeted:

I. Targeting Iran’s Nuclear and Missile Proliferation Activities

One set of today’s actions targets Iran’s nuclear and missile proliferation activities by designating entities and individuals that are part of the international procurement and nuclear proliferation operations of Iran’s Ministry of Defense for Armed Forces Logistics (MODAFL); Aerospace Industries Organization (AIO); Iran’s national maritime carrier, Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines (IRISL); and Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) – all of which have been previously designated under Executive Order (E.O.) 13382, “Blocking Property of Weapons of Mass Destruction Proliferators and Their Supporters.” Treasury today is also updating the identifying information for 57 vessels affiliated with IRISL that had been renamed or reflagged since they were originally designated by Treasury, and identifying seven vessels affiliated with IRISL that have not been identified previously. U.S. persons are generally prohibited from engaging in any transactions with individuals or entities designated pursuant to E.O 13382, and any assets the designees may have under U.S. jurisdiction are blocked.

Designations Related to MODAFL and AIO

Iran’s Ministry of Defense for Armed Forces Logistics (MODAFL) oversees Iran’s ballistic missile program. It is designated by the United States pursuant to E.O. 13382 in 2007, and has brokered a number of transactions involving materials and technologies with ballistic missile applications. Aerospace Industries Organization (AIO), a subsidiary of MODAFL, oversees all of Iran’s missile industries and was listed in the Annex to E.O. 13382. Today’s MODAFL- and AIO-related designations under E.O. 13382 include:

• Electronic Components Industries Co. (ECI) and Information Systems Iran (ISIRAN)

Electronic Components Industries Co. (ECI) and Information Systems Iran (ISIRAN) are being designated pursuant to E.O. 13382 because they are owned or controlled by Iran Electronics Industries (IEI), which was designated pursuant to E.O. 13382 in 2008 for being owned or controlled by MODAFL. IEI offers a diversified range of military products including electro-optics and lasers, communication equipment, telecommunication security equipment, electronic warfare equipment, new and refurbished radar tubes, and missile launchers. IEI manufactures military tactical communication systems and also electronic field telephones and switchboards.

ECI conducts work on military and civilian projects, to include semi-conductors, multilayer single and double sided printed circuit boards, hybrid circuits, quartz crystals and oscillators, high purity oxygen and nitrogen gases, micromodules and electronic ceramics.

ISIRAN is one of the largest and most experienced information technology companies in Iran with expertise in building mainframes, minicomputers and PC hardware, software and maintenance as well as total solution turn-key projects. Read More Here

The United States has has been placing targeted sanctions against Iran since 2005, blocking Property of Weapons of Mass Destruction Proliferators and Their Supporters,” on persons, firms, and financial institutions involved in Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs. Today's actions are intended to increase those pressures to get Iran's government to engage seriously in addressing its nuclear proliferation issues.