U.S. Announces New Sanctions Against Iran

Today, the U.S. Departments of State and Treasury announced that six Iranian individuals and five entities have been designated entities of proliferation concern under Executive Order 13382. According to the State Department Fact Sheet, "As a result of our actions today, all transactions involving any of the designees and any U.S. person will be prohibited and any assets the designees may have under U.S. jurisdiction will be frozen. Noting the UN Security Council’s grave concern over Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile program activities, the United States also encourages all jurisdictions to take similar actions to ensure full and effective implementation of UN Security Council Resolutions 1737, 1747, and 1803."

The newly sanctioned individuals and entities include:

Iranian Individuals
Mohsen Fakhrizadeh-Mahabadi: Fakhrizadeh was named in that annex of UNSCR 1747; he is a senior scientist at the Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics (MODAFL) and former head of the Physics Research Centre (PHRC). The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has asked to interview him about the activities of the PHRC over the period he was head of the PHRC, but Iran has refused.

Yahya Rahim Safavi: Safavi was named in the annex of UNSCR 1737 as the Commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and the UNSC listed him as the involved in both Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs. On September 1, 2007, Safavi was replaced as IRGC Commander and appointed as advisor and senior aide for armed forces affairs to the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei.

Dawood Agha-Jani: Agha-Jani was named in the annex of UNSCR 1737 for his involvement in Iran's nuclear program, and identified as the head of the Pilot Fuel Enrichment Plant (PFEP) at Natanz. Natanz, which is subordinate to the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI), is Iran's main uranium enrichment facility. The PFEP is a test facility that has the capacity to hold 1,000 centrifuges.

Mohsen Hojati: Hojati was named in the annex of UNSCR 1747 for his involvement in Iran's ballistic missile program. Hojati has been linked to the Aerospace Industries Organization (AIO) since at least 2001, serving in various capacities. He has also been identified as the head of the Fajr Industries Group, an entity designated by OFAC under E.O. 13382 on June 8, 2007, for being owned or controlled by the AIO.

Mehrdada Akhlaghi Ketabachi: Ketabachi was named in the annex of UNSCR 1747. As the head of the Shahid Bakeri Industrial Group (SBIG), Ketabachi plays a key role in SBIG's day-to-day affairs. Ketabachi is also active in negotiating the procurement of equipment for SBIG.

Naser Maleki: Maleki was named in the annex of UNSCR 1747 as the head of the Shahid Hemmat Industrial Group (SHIG) and an Iranian Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics (MODAFL) official who oversees work on the Shahab-3 ballistic missile program. As head of SHIG, Maleki is involved in multiple aspects of SHIG operations.

Iranian Companies
The TAMAS Company: TAMAS was named in the annex of UNSCR 1803 for its involvement in enrichment-related activities. The UNSC listed TAMAS as the overarching body, under which four subsidiaries have been established, including one for uranium extraction to concentration and another in charge of uranium processing, enrichment and waste.

Shahid Sattari Industries: Shahid Sattari Industries is involved in the manufacture and maintenance of ground support equipment for SBIG.

The other three entities designated today, Seventh of Tir (a/k/a 7th of Tir), Ammunition and Metallurgy Industries Group (AMIG), and Parchin Chemical Industries, are owned or controlled by, or act or purport to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, Iran's Defense Industries Organization (DIO). The U.S. Department of State designated DIO under E.O. 13382 on March 30, 2007, for engaging in activities that materially contributed to the development of Iran's nuclear and missile programs.

7^th of Tir: Seventh of Tir was named in the annex of UNSCR 1737, which described Seventh of Tir as a subordinate of Defense Industries Organization (DIO), widely recognized as being directly involved in Iran's nuclear program. Seventh of Tir has been involved in a variety of international transactions related to weapons procurement. Seventh of Tir has been connected to Iran's centrifuge development program.

Ammunition and Metallurgy Industries Group (AMIG): AMIG was named in the annex of UNSCR 1747 for its relationship with Seventh of Tir, which it controls. AMIG was also designated for its relationship with DIO.

Parchin Chemical Industries: Parchin was listed in the annex of UNSCR 1747. As a subordinate of DIO, Parchin acts on behalf of DIO and is an element of DIO's chemical industries group, importing and exporting chemical goods throughout the world. In April 2007, Parchin Chemical Industries was identified as the final recipient of sodium perchlorate monohydrate, a chemical precursor for solid propellant oxidizer, possibly to be used for ballistic missiles.