US authorities have decided to impose sanctions on nine firms from various nations that have reportedly sold missiles or chemical weapons-related goods to Iran. The companies include six Chinese firms run by the Chinese government, an Austrian firm and two Indian companies.
The move comes as a result the violation of the 2000 Iran Nonproliferation Act, which blocks international aid which may allegedly be used by Iran to create nuclear weapons.
A spokesman for the US State Department told reporters, "These entities are being sanctioned based on credible information that they transferred equipment and technology listed on multilateral export control lists to Iran."
The companies will now be prevented from doing business with the U.S. government and as well as obtaining export licenses needed to buy certain goods from American companies.
Iran is currently involved in negotiations with Britain, Germany and France over its nuclear program, which it claims is legal and serving civilian purposes, not military ones.
