The U.S. is preparing sanctions against Iranian companies and individuals over Tehran’s ballistic missile program, an act that the Islamic Republic has said would violate the recently signed nuclear deal.
According to reports in the Wall Street Journal and Reuters news agency, about 12 parties in Iran, Hong Kong and the United Arab Emirates could be sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury Department under existing missile-proliferation laws that have been applied to numerous Russian, Chinese, Middle Eastern and European individuals and companies.
An Obama administration official, speaking on condition of anonymity told reporters that the administration has “been looking for some time at options for additional actions related to Iran’s ballistic missile program based on our continued concerns about its activities.”
The United Nations has ruled that two ballistic-missile test launches this year violate earlier Security Council resolutions, a charge Iran denies.
The sanctions prohibit Americans from doing business with the named parties and freezes all their assets held in U.S. banks.
A formal announcement is expected this week, the Journal reported.
• Victor Morton can be reached at vmorton@washingtontimes.com.
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