WASHINGTON: The United States has imposed sanctions on 35 more Iranian companies, urging Tehran to cease its activities in Syria.
In a press briefing in Washington, US State Department Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel accused Iran of long-standing support for terrorism and called on it to desist from its actions in Syria.
Vedant Patel said that the United States is aware of the release of Nobel Prize winner Narges Mohammadi in Iran on medical grounds. Narges Mohammadi has been released for 21 days on medical grounds. She was arrested for speaking out against the ban on the hijab and the death penalty.
Patel demanded that Narges Mohammadi should be released unconditionally.
On the other hand, the United States has also announced sanctions on 35 more companies related to the Iranian maritime cargo industry.
At the suggestion of the US Treasury Department, the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) issued a directive to ban shadow Iranian companies operating from various countries for the maritime industry.
Also Read: China sanctions 13 US military firms in retaliation for arms sales to Taiwan
He said that Iran is illegally selling oil and investing its money in its nuclear programme, missiles and drones, which are already under sanctions.
According to the statement, Bradley Smith, Acting Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, said that the United States is committed to taking action against suspected fleets and vessels involved in illegal operations and will use all resources to prevent such activities.
