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US sanctions target Iran carrier | US sanctions target Iran carrier |
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The US has imposed sanctions on an Iranian shipping company and 18 of its affiliates over its alleged support for Tehran's nuclear programme. | The US has imposed sanctions on an Iranian shipping company and 18 of its affiliates over its alleged support for Tehran's nuclear programme. |
The Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines (IRISL) had provided logistical support for the Iranian defence ministry, the US treasury said. | The Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines (IRISL) had provided logistical support for the Iranian defence ministry, the US treasury said. |
IRISL's US-based assets would be frozen and its transactions banned, it said. | |
The US has already imposed a number of sanctions on Iran linked to its controversial nuclear programme. | The US has already imposed a number of sanctions on Iran linked to its controversial nuclear programme. |
Western nations accuse Iran of seeking to develop a nuclear weapon. But Tehran says its nuclear activities are aimed solely at peaceful energy development. | |
'Deceptive schemes' | |
The US treasury accused IRISL, a global operator, of shipping "military-related cargo" and lying about its activities. | |
"Not only does IRISL facilitate the transport of cargo for UN-designated proliferators, it also falsifies documents and uses deceptive schemes to shroud its involvement in illicit commerce," Stuart Levey, Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, said in a statement. | |
"IRISL's actions are part of a broader pattern of deception and fabrication that Iran uses to advance its nuclear and missile programs," he said. | "IRISL's actions are part of a broader pattern of deception and fabrication that Iran uses to advance its nuclear and missile programs," he said. |
The move means that US citizens and companies will not be allowed to do business with IRISL and its affiliates. The companies' bank accounts will be frozen. | |
The UN has passed three rounds of sanctions against Iran aimed at curtailing its nuclear programme. | |
Last month, the European Union approved new measures against Tehran after it missed a deadline to respond to a proposal from the five permanent members of the UN Security Council and Germany to suspend uranium enrichment. |