The US government has sanctioned Iran's space program. Tehran is using the civilian facility and two related research centers to advance its military missile program, the State Department said in Washington. Some technologies developed by the space program are "virtually identical" to those needed for ballistic missiles. It also said the space program would enable Iran to gain experience in technologies needed for ICBMs.
The sanctions relate to the Iranian Space Agency (ISA), the Iranian Space Research Center (ISRC) and the associated Institute of Astronautics (ARI). Registration in the US Sanctions Registry blocks potential assets of US facilities.
In addition, people who support the facilities could in future be sanctioned. "This measure should serve as a warning to the international scientific community that cooperation with Iran on launchers could help the ballistic missile program," said the US Department of State.
Pompeo warns of "threat" from Iran
Iran's missile program had come into focus last week after reports of a rocket explosion during a satellite launch. Iran denied the incident initially, later the explosion was downplayed. US President Donald Trump posted a photo on Twitter Friday that apparently showed the launch pad after the explosion.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has now announced that Iran attempted to fire a launcher last Thursday. This shows "the immediacy of the threat" by Iran.
For the 1st time, the US has sanctioned Iran's civilian space agency, which is the same space launch vehicle used in ballistic missiles. We call on our allies to join us in the world's top sponsor of terrorism from growing its ballistic missile program.
- Secretary Pompeo (@SecPompeo) September 3, 2019The US stepped out of Iran's international nuclear deal last year, and since then has reinstated sharp economic sanctions on Tehran, including a ban on oil exports. The US government is also using targeted sanctions to undermine Iran's nuclear and weapons program.
Will the meeting of Trump and Rohani take place in New York?
In the Iran crisis, Russia's UN ambassador has hopes that the conflicting parties may soon converge, especially with a view to the upcoming UN General Assembly in New York. The presence of Trump, his Iranian colleague Hassan Rohani and other leaders "gives us a chance to make certain things happen," Vasily Nebensja said Tuesday in New York.
In recent days, despite tensions and contradictory statements have given positive signals, "that something in the Iran thing in the near future," said Nebensja. Russia faces the UN Security Council in September. Tehran observers believe a Trump and Rohani meeting in the margins of the plenary in the second half of September is possible.