The United States is issuing new sanctions on Iran after evidence has surfaced of weapon smuggling; Reports indicate that these entities helped Tehran in their missile production; Pompeo: This decision will put the world on notice those who engage in illicit transactions with these companies will risk exposure to sanctions for themselves.
Once again, but even more seriously, Iran is being hit with new sanctions from the United States. This time, sanctions are being implemented on Iran’s largest shipping company, Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines (IRISL), E-Sail Shipping (China-based), as well as their largest airline, Mahan Air. Evidence has surfaced that both of these entities have been involved in weapon smuggling as well as helping to provide Iran the ability and products needed to produce ballistic missiles.
The driving force for these new sanctions is at least three-fold. First, the US, in the words of Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, is seeking to “put the world on notice those who engage in illicit transactions with these companies will risk exposure to sanctions for themselves.” Secondly, the US is doing whatever it can to limit Iran’s capabilities to further their regime of terror. Lastly, the US is using these sanctions to gain the attention of the world, hoping other nations will put Iran on notice and act accordingly.
Top State Department Official, Christopher Ford addressed the significance of these new sanctions and their international ramifications, stating, “Our ability to work with international partners overseas to deny Iranian shippers access to particular ports, or prevent transactions, is much more diplomatically persuasive when we are able to identify weapons of mass destruction or missile-related proliferation as the gravamen of the complaint.”
