US imposes Iran-related sanctions on UAE-based companies

The US on Wednesday imposed sanctions on two United Arab Emirates-based companies, the US Treasury Department said, accusing them of providing material support to Iranian airline Mahan Air. The Treasury said Parthia Cargo and Delta Parts Supply FZC provided key parts and logistics services for Mahan Air, which is blacklisted under US measures to fight terrorism and proliferators of weapons of mass destruction. The Treasury also slapped sanctions on Amin Mahdavi, a UAE-based Iranian national, for owning or controlling Parthia Cargo. The administration of US President Donald Trump plans this week to push for a reimposition of all UN sanctions on Iran, after the UN Security Council rejected Washington’s earlier bid to extend an arms embargo on the country. “The Iranian regime uses Mahan Air as a tool to spread its destabilizing agenda around the world, including to the corrupt regimes in Syria and Venezuela,” Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said. “The United States will continue to take action against those supporting this airline,” he added. Wednesday’s action freezes any US assets of those blacklisted and generally bars Americans from dealing with them.<br/>