UN Security Council’s Iran Sanctions (1737) Committee has imposed sanctions on two individuals and one company involved in Iranian arms smuggling.
Reports says individuals listed has helped plan a weapons shipment intercepted by Nigeria in 2010 and in violation of existing UN sanctions.
Both individuals and the company are reportedly tied to the Qods Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), the group that directs Iranian support for terrorism and extremism worldwide.
Today, the United States of America welcomes the April 18 decision by the UN Security Council’s Iran Sanctions (1737) Committee to impose sanctions on Iranian individuals and entity.
In her statement at DC, Ambassador Susan E. Rice said these designations reflect the Security Council’s unified commitment to using and enforcing the sanctions adopted by the Council, in conjunction with a constructive process of engagement, to compel Iran to meet its international obligations.
The action underscores the international community’s resolve to continue its call on Iran to demonstrate the exclusively peaceful nature of the Iranian nuclear program, Ms. Rice added.
She notes that in addition to targeting the IRGC, the UN Security Council has imposed stringent sanctions on Iran by banning ballistic missile launches, providing for rigorous inspection of suspect cargo in the air or on the sea, prohibiting the sale of many heavy weapons to Iran, severely constraining financial transactions with Iran, and highlighting the oil sector’s role in financing Iran’s nuclear program.
“We encourage the Committee and its Panel of Experts (POE) to take additional steps to strengthen implementation of these sanctions.”-Ms. Rice
On November 21, 2011, President Obama signed E.O. 13590 as part of a series of measures the United States took to increase pressure on Iran to comply with its full range of international nuclear obligations and engage in constructive negotiations on the future of its nuclear program. Executive Order 13590 expands on existing energy-related sanctions to authorize sanctions on persons that knowingly provide goods, services, technology, or support (above certain limited monetary thresholds) to Iran that could directly and significantly contribute to either the maintenance or enhancement of Iran’s ability to develop petroleum resources located in Iran or to the maintenance or expansion of Iran’s domestic production of petrochemical products.
Earlier this year, United States Government took three separate sanctions actions against Iran’s primary intelligence agency, the Ministry of Intelligence and Security (MOIS).
MOIS was designated for its involvement in the commission of serious human rights abuses against the Iranian people, as well as its support to terrorist groups, including al-Qa’ida, Hizballah and Hamas.
The European Union as well has imposed sanctions against Iran. The EU bans imports of Iranian crude oil and petroleum products, freeze the assets of the Iranian central bank, and take additional action against Iran’s energy, financial, and transport sectors.
The measures was agreed by the EU Foreign Affairs Council which are another strong step in the international effort to dramatically increase the pressure on Iran.
The Ministry of Intelligence and National Security of the Islamic Republic of Iran is the secret police and primary intelligence agency of the Islamic Republic of Iran. It is considered an important element of the Iranian government’s security apparatus. It is well funded and equipped.
In 1999, ministry were held responsible for the serial murders of dissident writers and intellectuals
