WASHINGTON: The United States stepped up its sanctions on Iran, targeting more than two-dozen companies and individuals linked to the country’s nuclear programme. US National Security Council spokeswoman Caitlin Hayden said the latest measures were meant to ensure that Iran’s nuclear programme remained “exclusively peaceful”.

In two separate statements, the US State Department and Treasury said the sanctions target those who helped procure materials for Iran’s nuclear programme, managed the delivery of those materials, or contributed to projects that could help Iran to build nuclear weapons. The sanctions target at least 25 firms and individuals.

Washington claims that Iran is working quietly to make nuclear weapons. Iran strongly denies the charge, insisting it was enriching uranium for power stations and for medical use.

Under the Joint Plan of Action, concluded in Geneva early this year, Iran and six major powers have set themselves until Nov. 24 to reach a permanent agreement to resolve this dispute. The next round of talks will be held in September.

US Under-Secretary for Terror­ism and Financial Intelligence David Cohen said Washington was imposing new sanctions to prevent “anyone, anywhere who violates (earlier) sanctions”.

Last month, the United States, Britain, Russia, China and France (5+1) agreed to extend nuclear talks with Iran to November. They also agreed to provide temporary relief to Iran from earlier sanctions to encourage it to curb its nuclear programme.

The companies sanctioned on Friday include the Organisation of Defensive Innovation and Research, which the US claims has been involved in developing a nuclear explosive device. The United Nations had previously sanctioned its founder.

Another sanctioned company, Nuclear Science and Technology Research Institute, manages projects at Iran’s Arak heavy water research reactor.

The facility is currently designed to produce plutonium that could be used in the production of nuclear weapons.

Two companies, sanctioned on Friday, allegedly helped Iran obtain carbon fibre, which can be used to advance centrifuge technology. Two other sanctioned companies are based in the United Arab Emirates and Italy.

The US Treasury Department sanctioned 25 people and companies including two airlines — one of which operates commercial flights.

Published in Dawn, August 30th, 2014