US expands scope of Iran metals sanctions

KUWAIT, July 31 (KUNA) -- US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced Thursday an expansion of the scope of Iran's metals-related sanctions targeting Iran's "nuclear, military and ballistic missile programs." "Iran's nuclear, ballistic missile, and military programs pose a grave threat to international peace and security," Pompeo said in a statement. He added that to address these threats, he is announcing "a major expansion of the scope of State Department-administered Iran metals-related sanctions." He indicated that the Department of State "is identifying 22 specific materials used in connection with Iran's nuclear, military, or ballistic missile programs." "Those who knowingly transfer such materials to Iran are now sanctionable pursuant to Section 1245 of the Iranian Freedom and Counter-Proliferation Act," he noted.
He stressed that "under the same provision of law, I am continuing my determination that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) controls Iran's construction sector." "The IRGC's construction firm and many of its subsidiaries remain sanctioned by the United Nations because they were directly involved in the construction of the uranium enrichment site at Fordow," he remarked.
"As a result of this IRGC determination, any knowing transfer of certain materials, including graphite or raw or semi-finished metals to or from Iran to be used in connection with the construction sector of Iran remains sanctionable," he said.(end) si.ibi