Global Security Newswire

Fourteen individuals, companies and government agencies in several countries have been sanctioned by the United States for doing business in missile or WMD material with Iran and Syria, the Associated Press reported yesterday (see GSN, Jan. 5).

There is "credible evidence" that the 14 entities have violated the U.S. Iran and Syria Nonproliferation Act, according to State Department officials.  They would not provide details of the reported violations.

The United States now cannot provide aid, government contracts or export licenses for two years to those on the renewable sanctions list.  A number of entities are already under sanctions for earlier deals, AP reported.

The 14 sanctioned entities are:  the Syrian air force and navy, the Syrian Army Supply Bureau, the Syrian Industrial Establishment of Defense, Hezbollah, the China National Precision Machinery Import/Export Corp., the Shanghai Nonferrous Metals Pudong Development Trade Co. of China, the Zibo Chemet Equipment Co. of China, the Defense Industries Organization in Iran, the Sokkia firm in Singapore, the Challenger Corp. of Malaysia, Target Airfreight in Malaysia, Aerospace Logistics Services in Mexico, and Arif Durrani of Pakistan (Matthew Lee, Associated Press/Yahoo!News, April 23).