WASHINGTON DC (RIA Novosti): The United States is imposing sanctions on three Russian companies accused of violating the non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction against Iran, North Korea and Syria, the State Department announced via a federal register.
The Pulsar research and production enterprise, Asia-Invest LLC and Charter Green Light Moscow were sanctioned.
“A determination has been made regarding a number of foreign persons who have participated in activities that give rise to the application of measures under section 3 of the Non-Proliferation Act with respect to Iran, North Korea and Syria,” – said in a publication dated Tuesday, August 10.
The sanctions list also includes companies from Iraq and Syria.
The sanctions imply a ban on the purchase of any goods, technologies and services from these companies by the American authorities, assistance to them, sale or issuance of licenses for the transfer of defense products to them.
“These measures will be applied by the relevant ministries and departments of the US administration and will remain in effect for two years from the date of introduction,” the State Department explained.
The document shows that the decision was made on July 29.
Moreover, the Asa’ib Ahl al-Haq militarized militia that makes a part of pro-government forces in Iraq, the Kata’ib Hezbollah pro-Iranian group, Lebanon’s Hezbollah and two trade companies from Syria have also been blacklisted.
“On July 29, 2021, the U.S. Government applied the measures authorized in <…> the Iran, North Korea, and Syria Nonproliferation Act <…> against the following foreign persons,” the notice reads. The restrictions are applied to “any successor, sub-unit, or subsidiary” of the targeted entities.
The sanctions are in place for two years but this time can be reduced or ended by the US Secretary of State.
Washington does not clarify what exactly prompted these sanctions.
Meanwhile, Russian Ambassador to Washington Anatoly Antonov said that the latest US sanctions against a number of Russian companies run counter to efforts to stabilize their bilateral relations, and also postpone the prospects for any constructive interaction.
“We consider this approach unacceptable and fundamentally contrary to the” spirit of Geneva “, as well as efforts to stabilize relations between the two countries. On the contrary, by such actions Washington is increasingly pushing back the prospects of any constructive interaction,” Antonov told reporters.
