The United States has stepped up economic pressure on Iran by imposing new sanctions on individuals and organizations accused of supporting Tehran’s weapons programmes.
The measures freeze any US-based assets belonging to 10 individuals and entities and prohibit transactions with those sanctioned, the US Treasury Department said on Tuesday.
Those targeted are based in China, Hong Kong, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkey.
The Treasury accused them of procuring weapons components for Iran’s Defence Ministry.
The sanctions are aimed at weakening Tehran’s ability to restart its weapons programmes and increase the costs for those helping Iran obtain military components, the department said.
Washington has imposed a raft of sanctions on entities accused of supporting Iran.
Previous measures have targeted Russia’s second-largest bank, VTB, and Turkey’s Golden Global Bank, as well as individuals and organizations accused of supporting the Kataib Hezbollah militia in Iraq and Lebanon’s Hezbollah.
Washington has also imposed sanctions on several major Iranian airlines.
A total of 27 Iranian carriers have been added to the US sanctions list, including Kish Airlines, Iran Airtour and ATA Airlines.