US proclaims sanctions on Iran metals business

Jan 5, 2021

The US positioned sanctions on corporations linked to Iran’s metals business Tuesday. The Trump administration’s continued use of sanctions might complicate the international coverage of President-elect Joe Biden.

The State Division introduced Tuesday new sanctions on metal, mining, industrial and building entities. 13 of the companies are based mostly in Iran. These embrace Pasargad Metal Advanced, based mostly in Tehran, and Vian Metal Advanced, which describes itself as “Iran’s second largest privately owned steel-maker.”

The division additionally introduced sanctions on corporations based mostly exterior Iran, together with in US-allied states. GMI Initiatives Hamburg in Germany, GMI Initiatives within the UK and World Mining Trade in China are additionally now designated. The three corporations are run by the Iran-based Center East Mines and Mineral Industries Growth Holding Firm, based on the State Division.

The US authorities has the authority to sanction corporations working with Iran’s metallic business based mostly on presidential Govt Order 13871. The reasoning is that the Iranian state makes use of revenues from this business to assist terrorism and threaten different nations.

“The Iranian regime makes use of income from its metals sector to fund the regime’s destabilizing actions all over the world,” learn the announcement.

The State Division additionally positioned sanctions on one particular person, Majid Sajdeh, who leads Hafez Darya Arya Delivery. Sajdeh’s firm allegedly participated in a graphite cope with an entity designated by the US Treasury Division.

US sanctions on Iran are controversial, and a few have had a malign impact on the Iranian economic system. Iran additionally alleges that the US authorities prevents Iran from shopping for medical provides. The US denies this.

Tuesday’s sanctions imply that the US authorities has the authority to grab any US-based belongings of the designated entities.

US President Donald Trump’s administration has continued to sanction Iran since shedding the US presidential election to former Vice President Biden. The flurry of sanctions in current weeks might complicate Biden’s acknowledged intentions to enhance relations between Washington and Tehran.