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Report: US preparing new Iran sanctions following ballistic missile tests
According to the Wall St Journal, the United States is preparing a new set of sanctions targeting Iranian individuals and companies over two recent ballistic missile tests carried out by Tehran, in breach of United Nations’ (UN) Security Council resolutions.
Iran has conducted two such tests since Tehran signed a long-term nuclear agreement with the P5+1 powers (US, UK, France, Russia, China and Germany) in July. In October, Iran’s Defence Minister Hossein Dehgan confirmed that the Emad (pillar) precision-guided surface to surface missile had been successfully tested. The rocket has a reported range of just over 1,000 miles and can deliver a 750kg payload to within 500 metres of a target. In November, Iran tested the Ghadr-110, which has a range of 1,200 miles, and is capable of carrying a nuclear warhead.
Such tests are a breach of UN Security Council Resolution 1929, passed in 2010, which bans Iran from any ballistic missile development capable of delivering nuclear weapons, including launches using ballistic missile technology. It is also a violation of UN Security Council Resolution 2231, passed the day after July’s accord was signed, which compels Iran to refrain from any work on ballistic missiles for eight years.
The Wall St Journal says that the US Treasury Department is consequently preparing sanctions which will prevent US and foreign nationals from doing business with companies and individuals involved in supporting the missile testing. American banks would also be compelled to freeze any associated assets. Such steps would be the first time that Washington has imposed such restrictions on Iran since the July agreement, which is meant to facilitate the lifting of sanctions on Tehran, in return for a gradual end to Iranian enrichment activity.
The Guardian quotes an unnamed senior US administration official, who commented “As we’ve said, we’ve been looking for some time at options for additional actions related to Iran’s ballistic missile programme based on our continued concerns about its activities.”