SAWT BEIRUT INTERNATIONAL

| 12 February 2025, Wednesday |

US slaps sanctions on Iranian, Chinese targets over Tehran’s missile, military programs

The US imposed sanctions on more than a dozen individuals and businesses in Iran, China, and Hong Kong on Tuesday, including Iran’s defense attaché in Beijing, accusing them of conducting a procurement network for Iran’s missile and military projects.

According to a statement from the US Treasury Department, the network conducted transactions and enabled the procurement of sensitive and critical parts and technology for key actors in Iran’s ballistic missile development, including Iran’s defense ministry and Armed Forces Logistics (MODAFL) agency, both of which are sanctioned by the US.

Among those hit with sanctions in the action, which comes as Washington ramps up pressure on Tehran, was Iran’s defense attaché in Beijing, Davoud Damghani, whom the Treasury accused of coordinating military-related procurements from China for Iranian end-users, including MODAFL subsidiaries.

“The United States will continue to target illicit transnational procurement networks that covertly support Iran’s ballistic missile production and other military programs,” Treasury’s Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, Brian Nelson, said in the statement.

Iran’s mission to the United Nations in New York and China’s embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

China and Iran in March 2021 signed a 25-year cooperation agreement to strengthen their long-standing economic and political alliance. China has been a major buyer of Iranian oil despite U.S. sanctions designed to choke off these exports.

Washington targeted centrifuge sales to Parchin Chemical Industries (PCI), dual-use metals sales to its intermediary, P.B. Sadr, and MODAFL’s electronics procurement in Tuesday’s action. Both PCI and P.B. Sadr were previously hit with sanctions by the United States.

Among those targeted were China-based Zhejiang Qingji Ind. Co., Ltd, which the Treasury accused of selling centrifuges and other equipment and services worth hundreds of thousands of dollars to PCI with P.B. Sadr as an intermediary.

Its director and an employee were also targeted, as well as Hong Kong-based Lingoe Process Engineering Limited, which the Treasury said served as a front company for Zhejiang Qingji and its dealings with PCI and P.B. Sadr.

Also among those hit with sanctions were Hong Kong Ke.Do International Trade Co., Limited and China-based Qingdao Zhongrongtong Trade Development Co., Ltd., which the Treasury accused of engaging in the sale of tens of millions of dollars worth of dual-use, nonferrous metals to P.B. Sadr.

Zhejiang Qingji did not immediately respond to a request for comment. P.B. Sadr and PCI, as well as the other companies, could not immediately be reached for comment.

    Source:
  • Reuters