U.S. imposes sanctions against Iran to deprive Hamas of weapons
U.S. wants to to deprive Hamas of access to weapons imposing sanctions on Iran (GettyImagеs)
The United States has imposed new sanctions against Iranian weapons manufacturers and their anticipated accomplices, according to the statement of the White House.
"The United States is taking swift and decisive action to target Hamas’s financiers and facilitators following its brutal and unconscionable massacre of Israeli civilians, including children,” said Secretary of the Treasury Janet L. Yellen.
According to her statement, the sanctions were imposed, in particular, to deprive Hamas of access to weapons.
The sanctions target a crypto business in Gaza called Buy Cash Money and Money Transfer Company, which provides money transfer and virtual currency exchange services, including Bitcoin.
According to the Ministry of Treasury, this firm has also been used to transfer funds to other terrorist groups.
Sanctions have also been imposed on the company Shenzhen Jiasibo Technology Co., Ltd., located in China.
The sanctions list includes the Russian Delta-Aero Technical Service Center LLC, supplying propellers and tires for its An-14 aircraft. the Russian joint-stock company scientific production enterprise Aerosila, engaged in training flights and testing installations for the Iranian company, the Russian joint-stock company Star, having contracts for the major repair of components of the An-140 aircraft.
Continuation of EU missile embargo for Iran
However, it is worth noting that yesterday, on October 17, the European Union Council announced the extension of the embargo on the export of missile weapons to Iran.
"The Council evaluated that there are valid reasons to refrain from lifting these restrictions on Transition Day," the European Union Council states.
Brussels explained the decision to refrain from lifting these restrictions on October 18, 2023, due to Iran's non-compliance with its obligations under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), as reported by the International Atomic Energy Agency since 2019.
Thus, the Council adopted legal acts "to maintain designations," initially introduced by the UN for individuals and legal entities participating in activities related to the development of nuclear or ballistic missiles or associated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
"The Council also agreed to maintain sectoral and individual measures, existing under the EU’s sanctions regime, notably those related to Iran nuclear proliferation, as well as arms and missile embargoes," the statement says.
Russia seeks Iranian missiles
Analysts from the American Institute for the Study of War (ISW) earlier suggested the possibility of an agreement between Russia and Iran regarding the transfer of missiles. This could happen after October 18 when the UN Security Council Resolution 2231, which prohibits such agreements with Tehran, ceases to be in effect.
Recently, the director of Israeli intelligence Mossad, David Barnea, stated that Iran intends to transfer long and short-range missiles to Russia, in addition to suicide drones Shahed.
In late September, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, during a briefing with UN Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, stated that there is no evidence of the sale of Iranian ballistic missiles to Russia.
It is worth noting that the spokesperson for the Air Force Command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Yuri Ignat, commented to RBC-Ukraine, stating that if Russia acquires Iranian ballistic missiles and uses them for aerial attacks, it would pose a serious threat to our country.
