WASHINGTON, May 24 (Xinhua) -- The United States on Thursday sanctioned nine individuals and entities for allegedly "procuring export-controlled, U.S.-origin goods for sanctioned Iranian airlines," and designated them as Specially Designated Global Terrorists (SDGTs).
U.S. Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) also identified 31 aircraft in which entities previously designated as SDGTs have an interest.
The treasury said the newest designated persons and entities "have been procuring parts and providing services for the fleets of sanctioned Iranian airlines, including Mahan Air, Caspian Air, Meraj Air, and Pouya Air."
The airlines had transported weapons, fighters, and money to Iran's proxies in Lebanon and Syria, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said in the statement.
Mnuchin warned that countries and companies around the world should take note of the risks associated with granting landing rights and providing aviation services to the airlines.
"Today's actions are the result of a U.S. Government-wide effort to prevent the procurement of U.S.-export controlled goods by designated Iranian airlines through individuals and entities in third countries, demonstrating the United States' commitment to enforcing existing sanctions," the statement read.
These actions were built upon U.S. President Donald Trump's decision earlier this month to cease the U.S. participation in the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) and to begin re-imposing U.S. sanctions that had been lifted under the JCPOA.
