The United States government has warned businesses considering deals with Iran to be aware of the potential risk of sanctions. The warning came in response to a visit by the Iranian president to Pakistan, during which the two countries signed eight memorandums of understanding and agreed to increase bilateral trade.
“Just let me say broadly, we advise anyone considering business deals with Iran to be aware of the potential risk of sanctions,” said Vedant Patel, Deputy Spokesperson of the US State Department. “But ultimately, the government of Pakistan can speak to their own foreign policy pursuits.”
The US has recently imposed sanctions on suppliers to Pakistan’s ballistic missile program, including three Chinese companies. The sanctions were imposed because the companies were “proliferators of weapons of mass destruction and the means of their delivery,” according to Patel.
“These were entities based in the PRC (People’s Republic of China), in Belarus, and that we have witnessed to have supplied equipment and other applicable items to Pakistan’s ballistic missile programme,” Patel said. “They are following our October 23 designation of three PRC entities who have worked to supply Pakistan’s missile programme. We are going to continue to disrupt and take actions against proliferation networks and concerning weapons of mass destruction procurement activities, wherever they may occur.”
At a separate news conference, Pentagon Press Secretary Patt Ryder said the US maintains good relations with Pakistan. “They are an important security partner in the region,” he said.
