US put new sanctions on Iran space agency this time
The United States has implemented its first sanctions against Iran Space Agency, accusing it of the missile program.
“The United States will not allow Iran to use its space launch program as a cover to promote its ballistic missile program,” said Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Tuesday.
The fresh sanctions have an impact on the Iran Space Agency, the Iran Space Research Center and the Aeronautics Research Institute.
The United states blocked all these organizations’ holdings of funds and U.S. nationals are prohibited from doing company with them.
The U.S. claims Iran space launch vehicle technique is “nearly identical and interchangeable with those used in ballistic missiles,” including how to control a missile during its flight.
The U.S. also informs the “global science community that working with Iran on space launch cars could add to its ballistic missile program.”
The nuclear agreement
Iran space agency claims that they designed space program to launch telecommunications satellites. Since 2013, Iran has shot two such satellites into orbit. But three other efforts failed this year, including one rocket that blew up on the launch pad last week.
The UN Security Council, endorsing the 2015 international agreement that restricted Iran’s nuclear program, urges Iran not to engage in any ballistic missile exercise that could be used to produce nuclear weapons.
Also Tuesday, Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani said he would not have bilateral discussions with the United States.
Regarding Iran space agency, Rouhani informed Parliament that the only way his state would meet with Washington is if all U.S. sanctions were lifted and the other sides to the 2015 nuclear agreement were present.
President Donald Trump said there was a “very nice possibility” that he and Rouhani would speak to each other. Trump hopes to renegotiate the 2015 agreement after taking the U.S. out last year and reintroducing sanctions that have harmed Iran’s economy.
In conclusion, Before U.S put sanctions on Iran space agency, Iran has already withdrawn from some components of the atomic contract and is threatening to raise its oil consumption unless the surviving signatories to the contract–Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the European Union–provide financial relief from the sanctions.
Source: DW
