The Wall Street Journal:
The Obama administration on Thursday imposed new sanctions against Iranian defense firms and units of Tehran’s elite Revolutionary Guard, for their alleged role in supporting their country’s recent ballistic-missile launches.
The Treasury Department also blacklisted firms in the U.K. and United Arab Emirates for allegedly serving as business fronts for Iran’s Mahan Air, which was sanctioned in 2011 for facilitating the movement of arms for the Revolutionary Guard.
The Obama administration’s moves came as it faces increasing pressure from Congress to press back against Iran for the missile tests and disruptive regional activities, despite the nuclear accord reached last July between Tehran and global powers.
Iran has conducted a string of ballistic-missile tests in recent weeks that U.S. officials said may have violated a United Nations Security Council Resolution. Iranian officials say the missiles are defensive, aren’t part of a nuclear program and are legal.
Tehran has also continued to provide arms and other military support to the Assad regime in Syria.
“We will continue to use all of our tools to counteract Iran’s ballistic missile program and support for terrorism, including through sanctions,” acting Undersecretary of the Treasury Adam Szubin said on Thursday.
Thursday’s sanctions targeted firms that have allegedly aided Mahan Air in conducting business across Europe and the Middle East.
Treasury has accused Mahan of regularly ferrying supplies into Syria on behalf of the Revolutionary Guard.
“Mahan Air regularly uses the same aircraft it flies to Syria to fly commercial routes to international destinations in Europe, the Middle East and Asia,” Treasury said.
