US Sanctions Iran’s Aerospace Centers
The US Department of the Treasury imposed new sanctions against Iran’s aerospace programs. These sanctions target Iran’s Space Organization, the Aerospace Research Institute, and Iran’s Space Research Center.
Reuters reported on the United States’ decision to impose new sanctions against Iran. The US Treasury Department announced on Tuesday, September 3 (Shahrivar 12) on its website that Washington, in order to increase pressure on the Islamic Republic of Iran, is subjecting Iran’s Space Organization, the Aerospace Research Institute, and the country’s Space Research Center to sanctions.
This decision comes just days after Iran’s failed launch of a satellite-carrying rocket at the Semnan Space Center.
The US regards the explosion at the rocket launch pad at Semnan Space Center as an indicator of Iran’s missile activities.
Mike Pompeo, the US Secretary of State, said in this regard: “America will not allow Iran to use its space program as a cover for its ballistic missile programs.”
Mike Pompeo also confirmed that the US has sanctioned Iran’s Space Organization and two space research centers.
Accordingly, all individuals who hold US citizenship or reside in the country will be considered criminal if they have any connection to Iran’s space program.
Iran’s Space Research Center began operations in 2011 as one of the subsidiaries of the Space Research Institute, working in the fields of “space telecommunications,” “space science and exploration,” and “remote sensing.”
Donald Trump, the US President, unilaterally withdrew the US from the nuclear agreement reached in 2015 with Iran last year. Since then, he has pursued the “maximum pressure” policy more than anything else through increasing sanctions. Trump seeks to reach a new agreement with Iran over its nuclear and missile programs that would clearly have broader dimensions than the current agreement. However, Iran is unwilling to negotiate with the United States. Iran says its missile program is defensive in nature and its nuclear program serves non-military purposes.
Source: DW
