The U.S. Adds 9 Individuals and Companies to Iran Sanctions List

On Tuesday, January 9, the U.S. Department of the Treasury added the names of five Iranians, one Afghan national, and three new companies to its sanctions list against Iran. According to a report published on the official website of the U.S. Department of the Treasury, the five Iranians named are Asadollah Seifi, Timour Amiri, Hossein Zeidi, Seyed Kamal Yasini, and Anahita Nasirbig, along with an Afghan national named Azizollah Asadollah Golandari, accused of circumventing sanctions imposed against Iran and violating human rights. Hossein Zeidi, a former Iranian citizen, is now a citizen of Saint Kitts and Nevis. Additionally, two Iranian companies and one company registered in the United Arab Emirates have also been added to the new U.S. sanctions list. The company 'Belfast General Trading,' registered in the UAE and now on the U.S. blacklist, claims on its official website that it engages in food and agricultural trade. The U.S. Treasury explained that this company, along with the five individuals mentioned, is accused of providing technical and financial assistance to the Iranian government to obtain U.S. dollars. The U.S. claims that the company was involved in the transfer of $250 million to Iran. Anahita Nasirbig, an employee of Asia Bank, has been accused of assisting in the transfer of $10 million from this bank to Iran's central bank. Furthermore, the Iranian companies 'Abisk' and 'Doran Software Technologies' have been added to the U.S. blacklist for allegedly assisting the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in 'serious human rights violations' and aiding the Iranian government in 'implementing censorship and restricting freedom of expression.' David Cohen, the U.S. Deputy Secretary of Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, stated in a message published on the Treasury's website that although the U.S. does not wish to impose new sanctions against Iran during nuclear negotiations (between the P5+1 and Iran), it emphasizes the strict enforcement of existing sanctions. The new sanctions list from the U.S. Treasury also updates the list of 30 vessels belonging to the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines that are under U.S. sanctions. Iran and six world powers are currently negotiating to reach a comprehensive nuclear agreement, with discussions expected to continue until July 1, about six months from now. According to the Geneva agreement reached last December, the West committed to not impose new sanctions against Iran, but the U.S. states that any individual or entity that violates current sanctions will be added to its blacklist.