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WASHINGTON: The United States has sanctioned 10 individuals and entities, including some based in China, Hong Kong and Pakistan,saying they helped \u200bIran procure weapons and components, the US Treasury Department said Tuesday.<\/p>\n
The sanctions are part of the Trump administration\u2019s effort to isolate Iran economically and force it to negotiate an end to the US-Iran war that began in February.<\/p>\n
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said: \u201cTreasury will not tolerate any support to \u200cthe regime and \u200cwill continue to identify, expose, \u200band \u200cisolate \u2060Iran\u2019s \u200benablers.\u201d<\/p>\n
Treasury said \u2060the sanctions were aimed at degrading Tehran\u2019s ability to reconstitute its weapons programs, while increasing the costs for those who supported its procurement efforts.<\/p>\n
Those targeted in Tuesday\u2019s sanctions announcement include:<\/p>\n
* Seyyed Asghar Alizadeh Tabatabai, a Beijing-based representative of Iran\u2019s Ministry of Defense \u2060and Armed Forces Logistics agency, who Treasury \u200csaid had coordinated the procurement \u200cof finished weapons systems and \u200bdual-use components in China \u200con Iran\u2019s behalf.<\/p>\n
* Iran-based Kavoshcom Asia R and \u200cD Group, which Treasury said had procured electronics including connectors for Iran Aircraft Manufacturing Industrial Company.<\/p>\n
* Hong Kong-based EC Mojo Technology Co. Limited, which Treasury said had provided electronic \u200ccomponents in support of Kavoshcom\u2019s procurement efforts, and EC Mojo\u2019s China-based representative Li Fen.<\/p>\n
* \u2060Pakistan-based \u2060Waseem Pasha Tajammal, who serves as chairman of Cavalier Group, a privately owned defense company with locations in Pakistan and internationally.<\/p>\n
* Brett Erickson, managing principal with Obsidian Risk Advisers, said the latest sanctions action would do little to impede Iran\u2019s ability to launch missiles and drones in the Strait of Hormuz.<\/p>\n
* \u201cThis is optics management for the Trump administration to claim \u2018We\u2019re hammering them,\u2019 when the reality is \u200bwe\u2019re poking them with a \u200btoothpick,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n