The United States announced the entry into force on Monday, June 8, of severe sanctions against the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines (IRISL) and its Shanghai-based subsidiary, E-Sail Shipping Company, two companies flagships of the Iranian maritime transport sector.
These measures had been announced in December but their implementation had been postponed by six months "To allow exporters of humanitarian goods to Iran to find alternative means of transport", American Foreign Minister Mike Pompeo said on Monday in a statement.
Washington accuses these companies of shipping products related to Tehran's ballistic missile program.
"Now that this generous period has ended, commercial or maritime entities that want to continue doing business with Iran must find other ships or means of maritime transport", warned Mr. Pompeo.
On the black list of the US Treasury
IRISL, the fifteenth largest company in the sector in terms of freight transported, was actually already on the US Treasury blacklist in connection with Iranian nuclear activities. These measures add it to another blacklist linked to the weapons of mass destruction program.
It’s a "Clear warning", insisted the secretary of state: "All those who exchange with or support IRISL or E-Sail are exposed to potential sanctions" the United States "And risk contributing to Iran's sensitive proliferation programs, including its nuclear and ballistic programs".
This announcement is part of the "Maximum pressure campaign" against Tehran, which Washington wants to show is continuing and even intensifying despite a new exchange of prisoners which took place last week between the two enemy countries.
US President Donald Trump left the international agreement signed with Iran three years ago in 2018 to prevent him from acquiring the atomic bomb. Deeming this text too weak, he reinstated and then strengthened the American sanctions to demand the negotiation of a "New agreement" with blurred contours, so far in vain. In protest, the Islamic Republic has begun to disengage from the constraints of its nuclear program.