London, 31 Mar - Earlier this month the new White House administration announced a large package of sanctions targeting Iran, Syria,and North Korea for their efforts to transfer illicit materials and technology. The sanctions targeted 30 entities in 10 separate countries, a range of entities who are complicit in the transfer "of sensitive items to Iran's ballistic missile program," according to the State Department.
However,
on Thursday, senior State Department officials said that the new package of
sanctions targeting the Islamic Republic would not halt the country's missile
development.
The
new sanctions come while Iran provides missile technology and supports terror
organizations across the Middle East, including Hezbollah, as wells as
continuing to trade nuclear and missile technology with North Korea, also hit
with sanctions.
Still,
senior State Department officials say that sanctions alone are not enough to
put an end to Iran's continued production of ballistic missiles, banned under
international law.
"We
got a number of measures, and they're not just sanctions that we engage in to
slow down and prevent Iran from advancing its ballistic missile program,"
a senior State Department official stated during a conference call with
reporters, writes Adam Kredo in his article for the Washington Free Beacon.
The
official pointed out several U.S. efforts to prohibit shipments of arms and
other materials to Iran, as well as efforts by the United Nations meant to
highlight Iran's illicit activities. He said that sanctions are "just part
of a series of things that we do to counter Iran's ballistic missile program.
Sanctions alone are important, sanctions shine a public spotlight and limit the
activities of the sanctioned entities and also discourage other entities from
engaging in those activities.” He added, "We'll admit that alone they are
just one tool that is part of a larger tool kit. We'll continue to look at
other opportunities to sanction where appropriate.”
According
to the State Department, the United States will continue to look for other
opportunities to sanction Iran's ballistic missile program, as well as its
human rights abuses. Iran's missile procurement remains "one of most
significant security concerns in the region," according to a senior State
Department official, and the latest sanctions underscore "our commitment
to counter these activities.” The official added, "We will continue to
counter Iran's support for terrorism, its ballistic missile program, and human
rights abuses," and the new sanctions "should come as no surprise to
Iran.”
U.S.
official and military personnel maintain that Iran continues to pose the largest threat to regional
stability in the Middle East.
On
Wednesday, U.S. Central Command leader General Joseph Votel warned Congress
that officials have "not seen any improvement in Iran's behavior"
since the nuclear deal went into effect. Votel described Iran as "the most
significant threat" to U.S. forces and allies in the region.
Iran's
ballistic missile program is sophisticated enough to strike several U.S.
allies, making it the most pressing threat in the region. In a statement announcing the latest sanctions, the
State Department said, "Iran's proliferation of missile technology
significantly contributes to regional tensions. As an example, we have seen
indications Iran is providing missile support to the Houthis in Yemen. This
destabilizing activity only serves to escalate regional conflicts further and
poses a significant threat to regional security.”
The
State Department declined to comment regarding possible sanctions on Iran's
Revolutionary Guard Corps, or IRGC
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