look news india
Washington, December 31: The US has imposed new sanctions on 10 individuals and entities, taking strict steps regarding the alleged arms trade between Iran and Venezuela. The US Treasury Department said on Tuesday that these sanctions have been imposed on allegations of being linked to Iran’s offensive weapons program.
Venezuela-based Empresa Aeronáutica Nacional SA (EANSA) and its Chairman Jose Jesus Urdaneta Gonzalez have been added to the sanctions list, according to the Treasury Department. The US alleges that both of them played a role in the trade of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), i.e. drones, between Iran and Venezuela.
The statement said Urdaneta, on behalf of EEASA, coordinated with officials from the Venezuelan and Iranian armed forces to advance drone production in Venezuela.
John Hurley, Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence at the Treasury Department, said the US will continue to take swift and decisive action to deny Iran’s military-industrial complex access to the US financial system.
In recent months the US has increased pressure on Venezuela and has made a large-scale military deployment to the southern Caribbean region. Along with this, sanctions have also been imposed on President Nicolas Maduro, his family and associates.
