WASHINGTON: The US Treasury Department has slapped sanctions on a Malaysia-based sales agent for having links with Mahan Air, an Iranian airline blacklisted by Washington.
Announcing this in a statement Monday, the Treasury said Mahan Travel and Tourism was sanctioned as it enabled Mahan Air’s international operations, especially for “conducting financial transactions on behalf of the airline.”
It said Mahan Air was designated in October 2011 to provide support for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Qods Force.
According to Xinhua news agency, the latest move by the department will freeze all assets the designated entity may hold in the US and generally, prohibit US individuals from doing business with it.
Washington has intensified sanctions against Iranian entities and individuals following President Donald Trump’s decision to exit the Iran nuclear deal in May, a move widely criticised by the international community.
Early this month, the US announced that part of the sanctions lifted under the nuclear deal, including targeting Iran’s energy sector and petroleum-related transactions, would snap back in early November.
Iran’s Petroleum Ministry announced Sunday there had been no major change in Iran’s production and export of crude oil despite the sanction threats. – BERNAMA
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