Emmanuel Thomas I Friday, February 03, 2017
WASHINGTON – The United States of America today came down real hard on individuals and entities that have provided support for the January 29 Iran’s ballistic missile launch and attack on U.S allies.
The measures are initial steps in far reaching measures the U.S hopes to use to call Iran to order.
Specifically, a total of 43 individuals, entities and networks were so designated and their properties blocked in areas where U.S has jurisdiction, the U.S Department said at a press conference today.
“Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control, which is commonly referred to as OFAC, designated 25 individuals and entities for their support to Iran’s ballistic missile program or for their support to the Iran – the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Qods Force, which itself has been designated under Executive Order 13224 for providing material support to various terrorist groups, including Hizballah and Hamas.
“Specifically, today OFAC designated three networks totaling 17 individuals and entities for their support to Iran’s ballistic missile program, including to the previously designated Aerospace Industries Organization and Shahid Hemmat Industrial Group, which are central players in Iran’s ballistic missile research, development, and production activities. OFAC also designated a key Lebanon-based IRGC Qods Force support network comprised of seven individuals and entities working with Hizballah. And finally, OFAC designated one individual for providing procurement and other services on behalf of the IRGC Qods Force”, the department said.
Based on this measures, any property of these individuals and entities designated today that are subject to U.S. jurisdiction are blocked and U.S. persons are generally prohibited from engaging in transactions with them.
“This means that financial transactions by U.S. persons are prohibited and exports to these individuals and entities are also prohibited, and consistent with statute, secondary sanctions attached to these individuals and entities. And their names will appear on OFAC’s Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List, or SDN list”, the department said.
Based on the blockage, non-U.S. persons who knowingly conduct or facilitate significant transactions with or who provide material or other – certain other support to these individuals and entities will themselves face being cut off from the United States.
