The U.S. Department of the Treasury classified the National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) as "an agent or affiliate" of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). The move enables the United States to sanction foreign banks that conduct business with NIOC.
News Briefs
September 21, 2012
In an annual military parade, Iran displayed its Raad air defense system. The system is capable of hitting targets at 22,000 meters, according to Iranian officials. Iran also displayed the Sajjil-2 (Sejil-2) and Ghadr F-1 missiles, both of which have a range of about 2,000 kilometers.
-- Associated Press via Today's Zaman
September 8, 2012
The Maritime Administration of Sierra Leone announced that it had removed nine ships from its shipping register after finding that they were registered by subsidiaries of Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines (IRISL).
-- Reuters
September 7, 2012
Canada announced the closure of its embassy in Iran. Canadian Foreign Minister John Baird said the decision was prompted by safety concerns and by Iran's support for Syrian President al-Assad and its refusal to comply with United Nations inspectors.
-- BBC News
September 1, 2012
Iran and North Korea announced the signing of a scientific and technological cooperation agreement in Tehran. Iranian state-owned television reported that the deal would establish joint scientific and technological laboratories, provide for the exchange of scientists, and enable the transfer of technology.
-- Associated Press via the Washington Post
August 30, 2012
The International Atomic Energy Agency's (IAEA) quarterly report on Iran stated that Iran had doubled the number of centrifuges used for uranium enrichment at its underground nuclear facility at Fordow. The report also noted that recent "extensive activities" at its Parchin complex, including the demolition of buildings and moving of soil, would significantly impact an IAEA investigation of the site if Iran eventually grants it access.
-- Reuters
August 21, 2012
President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad unveiled six defense-related projects. The projects included the fourth-generation Fateh-110 missile, the Bonian-4 marine engine, the Armita space test laboratory, the Aras tactical vehicle, the Vafa mortar-launcher, and the Shahed navigation system.
-- Fars News Agency
August 21, 2012
Tanzania and Tuvalu announced that they would deregister Iranian oil tankers owned by the National Iran Tanker Company (NITC) that had been using flags of convenience from the two countries in an effort to evade sanctions.
-- Financial Times
August 15, 2012
Four men were arrested in Germany for allegedly breaking the country's arms embargo against Iran and for export violations. One of the men is a German citizen and three have dual German-Iranian citizenship. The suspects are accused of using front companies in Turkey and Azerbaijan to supply Iran with special valves to be used in heavy water reactors. Prosecutors say that the suspects knew the end-use of the valves. The suspects have been identified as Rudolf M, Kianzad Ka, Gholamali Ka, and Hamid Kh. A fifth suspect has not been named. The arrests were made following searches of homes and businesses in Hamburg, Oldenburg, and Weimar.
-- BBC News
August 13, 2012
President Obama signed into law a new sanctions bill targeting Iran for its failure to halt its nuclear program. The new legislation, the Iran Threat Reduction and Syria Human Rights Act of 2012 (H.R. 1905), strengthens existing penalties, targets American companies with foreign subsidiaries that violate U.S. sanctions, and prohibits the support of Iran's oil, insurance, shipping, and financial sectors.
-- Wall Street Journal