Published on March 31, 2022

Photo’s source: iranintl.com

On March 30^th, 2022, the US imposed sanctions to a procurement agent from Iran and to his related group of companies, accusing him of helping Tehran obtaining materials for its ballistic missile program. This action comes after missile attacks by suspected Iranian-backed proxies on countries in the region. The US Treasury Department accused the procurement agent Mohammad Ali Hosseini and his related companies of procuring “ballistic missile propellant-related materials”.

Brian Nelson, the undersecretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence said: “This action reinforces the United States’ commitment to preventing the Iranian regime’s development and use of advanced ballistic missiles”.

US and Iran have indirect talks in Vienna to reactivate the 2015 nuclear deal (JCPOA), which Democrats say curbed Iran’s nuclear program in return for access to billions of dollars in sanctions relief.

While US and Iranian officials have repeatedly said a deal was close to be finalized, Tehran is demanding that the terror designated be lifted off the IRGC.

After the sanction’s announcement Brian Nelson declared that: “While the United States continues to seek Iran’s return to full compliance with the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, we will not hesitate to target those who support Iran’s ballistic missile program”. Nelson added: “We will also work with other partners in the region to hold Iran accountable for its actions, including gross violations of the sovereignty of its neighbors.”

The US Treasury Department said the attacks are a “reminder that Iran’s development and proliferation of ballistic missiles continues to pose a serious threat to international security”.

The US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a separate statement that “We have taken this action following Iran’s recent missile attack on Erbil, Iraq, as well as missile attacks by Iranian proxies against Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates”.

The companies hit by the sanctions in Wednesday’s action include Iran-based Jestar Sanat Delijan and Sina Composite Delijan Co. Also sanctioned was P.B. Sadr Co, which the Treasury accused of acting on behalf of Parchin Chemical Industries, an element of Iran’s Defense Industries Organization also under U.S. sanctions.

This article was edited using the data from the Aljazeera.com, English.alarabiya.net, Cgtn.com, and English.aawsat.com