LOC21:45
18:45 GMT
WASHINGTON, July 28 (KUNA) -- The US sanctioned Friday six Iran-based entities in response to Iran's "continued provocative actions."
The Department of Treasury said in a statement that its Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned six Iran-based subordinates of Shahid Hemmat Industrial Group (SHIG), "an entity central to Iran's ballistic missile program, in response to Iran's continued provocative actions, such as yesterday's launch of the Simorgh space launch vehicle."
It indicated that "space launch vehicles use technologies that are closely related to those of an intercontinental ballistic missile and this launch represents a threatening step by Iran."
Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said in this regard that the US Government "will continue to aggressively counter Iran's ballistic missile-related activity, whether it be a provocative space launch, its development of threatening ballistic missile systems, or likely support to Yemeni Houthi missile attacks on Saudi Arabia such as occurred this past weekend.
"These sanctions target key entities involved in Iran's ballistic missile program, and underscore the United States' deep concerns with Iran's continued development and testing of ballistic missiles and other provocative behavior," he stressed.
According to the statement, SHIG "is responsible for the development and production of Iran's liquid propellant ballistic missiles," and is currently sanctioned by the UN and the EU.
As a result of this action, "all property and interests in property of those designated today subject to US jurisdiction are blocked, and US persons are generally prohibited from engaging in transactions with them."
In addition, foreign financial institutions that facilitate significant transactions for, or persons that provide material or certain other support to, the entities designated today risk exposure to sanctions that could sever their access to the US financial system or block their property and interests in property under US jurisdiction. (end)
si.bs