US Imposes Sanctions on 25 Iranian Individuals and Entities in Response to Iran's Missile Test

On Friday, February 4, the US Department of the Treasury added 25 Iranian individuals and entities to its sanctions list in connection with the recent missile test by the Islamic Republic. According to Reuters, the new sanctions list includes 13 individuals and 12 companies, some of which are based in the United Arab Emirates, Lebanon, and China. The statement from the Office of Foreign Assets Control indicates that four companies in Lebanon, two companies in China, and one company in the UAE are among the institutions sanctioned by the US. The Lebanese companies are accused of having ties to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. The sanctioned companies in Lebanon include Maher Construction and Trade Company, Mirage Engineering and Trade Company, Mirage Waste Management and Environmental Services (SARL), and Rim Pharmaceutical Company. The sanctioned companies in China are Cosailing Business Trading and Ningo New Century Import and Export Company. The sanctioned company in the UAE is Royal Pearl General. The 13 individuals sanctioned include Yahya Al-Haj, Abdollah Asgharzadeh, Tani Daryan, Hassan Dehghan Ebrahimi, Mohammad Abdolamir Farhat, Mohammad Maqam, Kambiz Rostamian, Ali Sharifi, Kin Xin Hua, Richard Yu, Mostafa Zahidi, Ghodrat Zargari, and Carol Zhou. The sanctioned Iranian companies are Ofogh Sabz Darya, Zist Tajhiz Poyesh, Arvin Danesh Aryan, Setareh Shargh, and MKS International Group. The US Treasury states that the sanctioned foreign companies are connected to a business network run by Abdollah Asgharzadeh, an Iranian businessman. According to the Treasury, Mr. Asgharzadeh is a supporter of the Shahid Hemmat Industrial Group, which is part of an Iranian institution responsible for Iran's ballistic missile program. The US Treasury's statement indicates that these sanctions are aimed at countering Iran's ballistic missile program and destabilizing activities in the region by Tehran. The statement emphasizes that the mentioned sanctions do not violate the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). According to the US Treasury, American individuals and companies are prohibited from engaging in any transactions with the sanctioned individuals and entities. John E. Smith, the acting head of sanctions at the US Treasury, stated, "Iran's continued support for terrorism and its development of ballistic missile programs pose a threat to the region, our partners around the world, and the United States." He added, "We will actively continue to use all available tools, including financial sanctions, to respond to this type of behavior." Iran and six world powers, including the US, reached an agreement last July to resolve Tehran's nuclear program, under which the Islamic Republic suspended its nuclear activities in exchange for the lifting of international sanctions against it. However, the agreement stipulates that Iran's parties cannot take actions, including sanctions, that violate the JCPOA. Iranian Defense Minister Hossein Dehghan confirmed on Wednesday that Tehran conducted a missile test. He stated on Thursday that the test was successful. However, the Iranian Defense Minister claimed that the test did not violate UN Security Council Resolution 2231 or the nuclear agreement with six world powers known as the JCPOA. Meanwhile, American officials have strongly condemned Iran's actions, deeming them a violation of the Security Council resolution and the JCPOA. Michael Flynn, the National Security Advisor to the US President, officially warned Iran on Wednesday regarding the missile test, stating, "Iran's ballistic missile test puts the lives of people in America at risk; it is a threat to the US, its friends, and allies in the region, and Washington condemns such actions." The sanctions imposed on Friday are the first punitive measures against Iran since Donald Trump's presidency began, which has taken a tougher stance towards Tehran. Mr. Trump repeatedly accused Barack Obama's administration of being weak on Iran during his campaign and promised to take a tougher approach if elected president. In recent days, he has tweeted multiple messages regarding Iran, stating that Iran is officially under surveillance. On Friday, continuing the verbal tension with Iranian officials, he warned again that "Iran is playing with fire." Mr. Trump tweeted: Iran "does not realize how kind President Obama has been to them; I am not like that." The US President also emphasized on Thursday that Iran has been officially warned due to its recent missile test, writing: "Iran should be grateful for the very bad deal that the US made with them." The US Treasury's action has been welcomed by Republicans. According to Fox News, Bob Corker, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, stated in a statement: "This action makes it clear that a new day has arrived in US-Iran relations, and we will no longer tolerate this country's destabilizing behavior." He added, "A coordinated and joint effort to counter Iran's illegal behavior has come late." Paul Ryan, Speaker of the House of Representatives, also emphasized that the "Iranian regime" must be held accountable for its missile test and supported the imposition of new US sanctions against Tehran. Peter Roskam, a Republican representative from Illinois in the House, also tweeted: "Iran must act like a responsible country in the international community if it wants to be treated like one."