Washington (EFE).- The United States government on Monday imposed a new round of sanctions on Iran’s nuclear program, targeting three Iranian nationals and a company called SPND, which it accuses of contributing significantly to the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.
“Iran continues to substantially expand its nuclear program and carry out dual-use research and development activities applicable to nuclear weapons and nuclear weapons delivery systems,” Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a statement.
The sanctions come a day after the fourth round of negotiations between the US and Iran. This dialogue took place in Oman and, according to Washington, was “encouraging” and made it possible to “reach an agreement to move the talks forward and continue working on the technical elements.”
Among those sanctioned on Monday was Sayyed Mohammad Reza Seddighi, who heads the SPND’s Shahid Karimi Group, which works on explosives-related projects.
There is also Ahmad Haghighat Taleb, a nuclear scientist and senior SPND official who was involved in Iran’s pre-2004 weapons program and who Washington believes continues to use his expertise to advance Iran’s nuclear initiatives.
The Donald Trump istration also targeted another SPND-linked official, Mohammed Reza Mehdipur, and the company Fuya Pars Prospective Technologists, known as Ideal Vacuum, also linked to this organization.
The Secretary of State said that Iran is the only country in the world without nuclear weapons that produces 60% enriched uranium and continues to use front companies and procurement agents to conceal its efforts to acquire dual-use items from foreign suppliers.
This 60% approaches the 90% needed for nuclear weapons.
Monday’s sanctions, Rubio stressed, show the US commitment to ensuring that Iran never obtains a nuclear weapon, and they block all US-based property and interests of those involved. EFE
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