The United States is stiffening export controls on five Iranian entities because of concerns about their links with weapons of mass destruction, the US Commerce Department said on Thursday. Three are involved in prohibited nuclear activities and two are involved in prohibited rocket systems and unmanned aerial vehicle activities, the Commerce Department said.
Commerce placed all five on its Entity List, which is "a compilation of end-users that present an unacceptable risk of using or diverting certain items to activities related to weapons of mass destruction," the department said.
US regulations require a license for most exports or re-exports to these entities with a presumption of denial. "The challenges posed by Iran are particularly complex and urgent, and this Entity List update strengthens our government's ability to meet those challenges," Mario Mancuso, Commerce under secretary for industry and security, said in a statement.
Concern over Iran's nuclear weapons program has prompted the United Nations to mandate two sets of sanctions on Tehran since December. Countries are mulling a third set of possible sanctions now.
The Commerce Department said its action on Thursday stemmed from United Nations Security Council Resolution 1737 approved in March. However, the United States has imposed unilateral sanction on Iran over many years.
The newly listed entities include Atomic Energy Organisation of Iran, Mesbah Energy Co, Kala Electric Co, Shahid Hemmat Industrial Group and Shahid Bakeri Industrial Group, the Commerce Department said.