New US sanctions on Iran and Venezuela over the march trade
Washington announced on Tuesday the imposition of Sanctions targeting Iran in Marches with Venezuela, in a move that comes in light of the escalation of American pressure on leftist Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.
The US Treasury Department targeted 10 individuals and entities in Venezuela and Iran against the backdrop of issues including the purchase of Iranian-made drones, efforts to obtain chemicals used in ballistic missiles, and other issues.
Deputy Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, John Hurley, said: "The Treasury Department holds Iran and Venezuela accountable for their continued and reckless proliferation of lethal weapons around the world"
He added in a statement: "We will continue to take swift action to deny access to the US financial system to those who facilitate the Iranian military-industrial complex"
Increasing American pressure on the two countries
The announcement of these sanctions came at a time when the Donald Trump administration increased pressure on Maduro, who accused the American president of seeking to overthrow his regime.
Trump said on Monday that the United States bombed and destroyed a marina that it said was designated for drug smuggling boats from Venezuela, in what may be considered the first ground strike in the military campaign it is carrying out in that region of Latin America under the pretext of combating drug traffickers.
The US Treasury Department announced that the latest measure strengthens its non-proliferation classifications, in support of the re-imposition of UN sanctions and other restrictions imposed on Iran.
It added that Iran’s drone and missile programs "It threatens the Americans and their allies in the Middle East, and destabilizes commercial navigation in the Red Sea"
Among those affected by the sanctions is a company "Empressa Aeronautica Nacional S.A" Venezuela and its Chairman of the Board of Directors, and the US Treasury Department said that the company had obtained Iranian-made drones.
Threat to American Interests
In a separate statement, US State Department spokesman Thomas Piggott said: "Iran’s continued supply of conventional weapons to Caracas poses a threat to American interests in our region".
He added that the Venezuelan company "It contributed to the sale of combat drones worth millions of dollars"
He continued: "The entities and individuals designated today demonstrate that Iran is actively deploying its combat drones and continues to purchase missile-related equipment in violation of UN restrictions.".
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