The United States yesterday increased sanctions against Iran, targeting more than 50 entities, among them nuclear and ballistic missile proliferation networks.
Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence David Cohen said the actions take “direct aim at disrupting Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs as well as its deceptive efforts to use front companies to sell and move its oil.”
In April, the Defense Department Annual Report On Military Power in Iran said there has been no change to Iran’s strategies over the past year.
“Iran’s principles of military strategy remain deterrence, asymmetrical retaliation, and attrition warfare,” it said. The grand strategy is to challenge U.S. influence and to become a dominant power in the Middle East.
Since 2005, the United States has imposed a series of sanctions under E.O. 13382, “Blocking Property of Weapons of Mass Destruction Proliferators and Their Supporters,” on persons, firms, and financial institutions involved in Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs, the State Department said. The effort, it said, has disrupted the progress of Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile program and imposed significant pressure on the Iranian government.
Additionally, the U.S. Departments of Treasury and State designated 11 entities and four individuals as part of a network of proliferators, led by Iran’s Ministry of Defense for Armed Forces Logistics (MODAFL) and its subsidiary, Aerospace Industries Organization (AIO).
MODAFL oversees Iran’s ballistic missile program. Aerospace Industries Organization (AIO), a subsidiary of MODAFL, oversees all of Iran’s missile industries.
As the DoD report states, Iran has developed short-, medium- and long-range missiles in a force of mostly mobile missile launchers. By 2015, the report said, Iran may be “technically capable” of flight testing an ICBM.
Other companies, such as Electronic Components Industries Co. (ECI) and Information Systems Iran (ISIRAN) are sanctioned because they are owned or controlled by Iran Electronics Industries (IEI), which was designated for being owned or controlled by MODAFL.
The Ministry of Defense Logistics Export (MODLEX) is under sanction. As MODAFL’s primary exporting entity since 2009, MODLEX was involved in the trade of exportable military products to countries including Sri Lanka, Sudan, Burma, Bangladesh and Nigeria, all in contravention of United Nations Security Council resolution (UNSCR) 1747 (2007) that prohibits Iran from selling any arms or related material.
Additionally, MODLEX represents Iran at arms trade fairs worldwide advertising Iranian military products for sale.
MODLEX also conducts limited procurement activities on behalf of MODAFL elements such as Iran’s Defense Industries Organization (DIO), AIO, and Shahid Bakeri Industrial Group (SBIG), both sanctioned for their links to Iran’s missile program.
Malek Ashtar University is being sanctioned for being owned or controlled by MODAFL. Established in 1986, it is one of the major research institutes and educational centers under the MODAFL umbrella, the fact sheets said. It was identified because it is subordinate to the Defense Technology and Science Research Center (DTSRC) within MODAFL. The University also created a missile training program in 2003 collaborating with AIO.