US sanctions group of people and firms from Iran, China and Hong Kong tied to Iran ballistic programme

The United States has sanctioned a group of people and firms from Iran, China and Hong Kong associated with the alleged development of Iran’s ballistic missile programme. According to the Treasury Department, the network of seven people and six firms “facilitated the procurement of sensitive and critical parts and technology for key actors in Iran’s ballistic missile development, including Iran’s defence ministry and its affiliated firms, Among the sanctions targets are the China-based firm Zhejiang Qingji, which has allegedly sold centrifuges and other materials to an Iran-based firm affiliated with the nation’s defence ministry. Also designated for sanctions were several executives at Qingji and the Hong Kong-based Lingoe Process Engineering Limited, which Treasury said served as a front company for the Chinese firm. Also named is Iran’s Defense Attach in Beijing, Davoud Damghani, who is alleged to coordinate purchases from China for Iran end-users. Among other things, the sanctions deny the people and firms access to any property or financial assets held in the U.S. and prevent U.S. companies and citizens from doing business with them. The latest round of financial penalties comes as Iran recently claimed that it has created a hypersonic missile capable of travelling at 15 times the speed of sound, adding a new weapon to its arsenal as tensions remain high with the United States over Tehran’s nuclear programme. Tensions between the U.S. and Iran are also high amid months of anti-government protests in Iran and Western anger at Iran’s export of attack drones to Russian forces fighting in Ukraine. Brian E. Nelson, Treasury’s undersecretary for terrorism and financial intelligence, said the U.S. will continue to target illicit transnational procurement networks that covertly support Iran’s ballistic missile production and other military programmes. With inputs from AP. Read all the  Latest News ,  Trending News ,  Cricket News ,  Bollywood News , India News  and  Entertainment News  here. Follow us on  Facebook,  Twitter and  Instagram.