The US government has imposed new sanctions on the construction industry in Iran and the export of certain raw materials.
The construction sector in the country was controlled by the Revolutionary Guards (IRGC), it was argued. The US considers the paramilitary IRGC as a terrorist organization. Consequently, the sale or supply of metals, coal or industrial software to Iranian construction companies could be sanctioned, the Foreign Ministry warned.
In addition, the sale of certain materials that could be used by Tehran for the development of weapons system, banned. The export of certain steel tubes, steel types and soldering metals would be sanctioned, irrespective of their end users in Iran.
This could, for example, also punish European companies that supply civilian customers in Iran with these products, by the US government. The US State Department lists in a press release which products exactly.
Since the unilateral termination of the nuclear agreement by the US government about one and a half years ago, the tensions between Washington and Tehran have steadily increased.
The US wants to use harsh sanctions and a policy of "maximum pressure" to persuade Iran to agree to a new deal with stricter conditions and stop supporting terrorist groups in the region. The previous US sanctions hit Iran's important oil and gas production hard and triggered an economic crisis.
