January 5, 2006	Thursday	Zilhaj 4, 1426

WASHINGTON, Jan 4: The US government on Wednesday froze the assets of two Iranian companies linked to the country’s nuclear drive.

The Treasury Department said the duo — Novin Energy Co and Mesbah Energy Co — were guilty of fostering the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMD).

The Treasury said the two Iranian companies were fronts for the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran. “Identifying and designating supporters of WMD proliferation disrupts the networks that are vital to illicit weapons programmes,” said the Treasury.—AFP