US sanctions Iran airline and shipping for WMD proliferation
Mahan Air and the Iran’s shipping industry is accused of smuggling aid to Islamic extremists, as well as weapons of mass destruction
11 December 2019 - 18:24
byDaphne Psaledakis and Humeyra Pamuk
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Washington — On Wednesday, the US imposed new sanctions on Iran’s biggest airline and its shipping industry, accusing them of transporting lethal aid from Iran to Yemen and weapons of mass destruction (WMD) proliferation.
Washington targeted three general sales agents of Mahan Air over the role the airline has played in WMD proliferation, US secretary of state Mike Pompeo told reporters.
Also blacklisted is an Iranian shipping network involved in smuggling aid from Iran to Yemen on behalf of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards and its elite foreign paramilitary and espionage arm, Quds Force (IRGC-QF), the US treasury said.
The new sanctions come just days after a weekend prisoner swap between the historic foes, a rare act of co-operation since tensions escalated after US President Donald Trump withdrew from the 2015 Iran nuclear accord.
The latest sanctions target Iranian businessman Abdolhossein Khedri and his companies Khedri Jahan Darya and Maritime Silk Road for alleged shipping operations on behalf of the IRGC-QF.
Mahan Air has previously been blacklisted for alleged support it has provided to the IRGC-QF, Hezbollah and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, according to a treasury department statement.
The US treasury sanctions freeze any US assets of those targeted and prohibit Americans from doing business with them.
“The Iranian regime uses its aviation and shipping industries to supply its regional terrorist and militant groups with weapons, directly contributing to the devastating humanitarian crises in Syria and Yemen,” treasury secretary Steven Mnuchin said in a statement.
“Aviation and shipping industries should be vigilant and not allow their industries to be exploited by terrorists.”
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
US sanctions Iran airline and shipping for WMD proliferation
Mahan Air and the Iran’s shipping industry is accused of smuggling aid to Islamic extremists, as well as weapons of mass destruction
Washington — On Wednesday, the US imposed new sanctions on Iran’s biggest airline and its shipping industry, accusing them of transporting lethal aid from Iran to Yemen and weapons of mass destruction (WMD) proliferation.
Washington targeted three general sales agents of Mahan Air over the role the airline has played in WMD proliferation, US secretary of state Mike Pompeo told reporters.
Also blacklisted is an Iranian shipping network involved in smuggling aid from Iran to Yemen on behalf of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards and its elite foreign paramilitary and espionage arm, Quds Force (IRGC-QF), the US treasury said.
The new sanctions come just days after a weekend prisoner swap between the historic foes, a rare act of co-operation since tensions escalated after US President Donald Trump withdrew from the 2015 Iran nuclear accord.
The latest sanctions target Iranian businessman Abdolhossein Khedri and his companies Khedri Jahan Darya and Maritime Silk Road for alleged shipping operations on behalf of the IRGC-QF.
Mahan Air has previously been blacklisted for alleged support it has provided to the IRGC-QF, Hezbollah and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, according to a treasury department statement.
The US treasury sanctions freeze any US assets of those targeted and prohibit Americans from doing business with them.
“The Iranian regime uses its aviation and shipping industries to supply its regional terrorist and militant groups with weapons, directly contributing to the devastating humanitarian crises in Syria and Yemen,” treasury secretary Steven Mnuchin said in a statement.
“Aviation and shipping industries should be vigilant and not allow their industries to be exploited by terrorists.”
Reuters
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