Washington: The US Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has imposed sanctions on five entities and one individual in Iran for their involvement in supporting Iran's nuclear program. These sanctioned parties are linked to the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) and its subsidiary, the Iran Centrifuge Technology Company (TESA). This move aligns with US policies aimed at preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, as outlined in National Security Presidential Memorandum 2.
According to Kuwait News Agency, the Treasury's action underscores the US government's commitment to countering threats posed by Iran's nuclear ambitions. Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent emphasized that Iran's pursuit of nuclear weapons poses significant risks to US national security and regional stability. He reaffirmed the Treasury's dedication to employing available tools and authorities to hinder Iran's nuclear advancement and its broader destabilizing activities.
The sanctions were enacted under Executive Order 13382, which targets proliferators of weapons of mass destruction and their delivery systems. The President had previously included AEOI in the Annex of E.O. 13382, and the US Department of State re-designated AEOI on January 30, 2020. TESA, designated by the Treasury on November 21, 2011, collaborates with AEOI on various projects.
Additionally, State Department Spokesperson Tammy Bruce announced the designation of Ansarallah, known as the Houthis, as a Foreign Terrorist Organization. This fulfills an early promise by President Trump to address threats posed by the Houthis to American security, regional partners, and global maritime trade. Bruce warned that any support to foreign terrorist organizations, such as the Houthis, could violate US law.