U.S. imposes new sanctions against IranDecember 23, 2010 - 15:53 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - The United States has hit Iran's Revolutionary Guard and its state-owned shipping lines with new sanctions. The U.S. Treasury Department announced it was barring five entities from dealing with the United States for their connections with the Guard and the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines. Those targeted include two banks, two financial companies and the executive director of one of the companies. The Treasury Department said the Guard and the shipping lines were “major institutional participants in Iran's illicit conduct and in its attempts to evade sanctions.” It also sanctioned Liner Transport Kish for providing material support to Hezbollah, which Western nations consider a terrorist group. The United Nations imposed a fourth round of sanctions on Iran this year for its refusal to stop enriching uranium. Other world bodies, including the U.S., have imposed additional penalties. Iran denies that its nuclear program is used for anything but peaceful purposes, VOA News reported. Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". Partner news | Putin congratulates Pashinyan’s birthday Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on his birthday on June 1. Opposition motorcade en route to Gyumri for large rally A motorcade of protesters headed by Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan is heading to the city of Gyumri. Ruling MPs, Foreign Minister talk Armenia-Azerbaijan processes MOs from the ruling Civil Contract party met with the Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan in the Armenian parliament. Russia: Armenia’s frozen membership weakens CSTO position in Caucasus A Russian envoy said any step that could alienate the CSTO member states from each other is “deeply wrong”. |