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Last update - 05:01 13/09/2008
Iran slams U.S. sanctions on shipping line as 'unjustifiable'
By The Associated Press
Tags: sanctions, Iran, U.S.

Iran on Friday condemned U.S. sanctions on the country's largest shipping line as "illegal and unjustifiable," insisting the company never engaged in any illicit activities such as the transfer of equipment for Tehran's missile and nuclear programs.

In the Iranian government's first reaction to the sanctions, its UN mission accused the United States of targeting "the welfare of the Iranian nation" and exerting "undue pressure on thousands of shareholders" of the shipping company with baseless allegations.

The U.S. on Wednesday ordered the freezing of any U.S. bank accounts or other financial assets belonging to the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines, known as IRISL, and 18 related companies. Americans were also barred from doing business with the companies, and U.S. officials said they would discourage international firms from doing business with them.
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Iran's UN mission said in a statement that the Iranian government reserved the right "to seek compensation for the damages that may be incurred to its citizens as a result of such unfounded accusations and unlawful unilateral measures."

Washington alleges the shipping company facilitated movement of military-related cargo destined for an Iranian agency that controls ballistic missile research, development and production. The U.S. also alleges the company falsified documents to conceal its cargo.

Stuart Levey, the Treasury Department's undersecretary for terrorism and financial intelligence, said that "IRISL's actions are part of a broader pattern of deception and fabrication that Iran uses to advance its nuclear and missile program."

The Iranian statement accused the U.S. of failing "to provide any evidence with regard to the so-called `proliferation concerns' in Iran, nor has it presented any substantiation to its allegations against IRISL."

The U.S. sanctions are the latest effort to put financial pressure on Iran, which the United States accuses of bankrolling terrorism and seeking to produce a nuclear bomb. Iran insists its nuclear program is purely peaceful and designed to produce electricity for civilian use.

Washington previously imposed sanctions on several state-run Iranian banks and businesses along with elements of its Defense Ministry and Revolutionary Guards Corps. The UN Security Council has imposed three sets of sanctions on Iran for refusing to suspend uranium enrichment in its nuclear program.

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      1.   An terrorist nation defending with words their criminal activity 03:18  |  JP 13/09/08
      2.   One wonders 04:33  |  Mark B. 13/09/08
      3.   America Standing Up 04:44  |  Ron 13/09/08
      4.   What Mullah`d is legal? 05:03  |  Yuri 13/09/08
      5.   Iran 05:24  |  American 13/09/08
      6.   the deep pockets 05:39  |  Shmuelshachor 13/09/08
      7.   #2 Mark B...don`t you just love diplomacy? 07:10  |  Lynn 13/09/08
      8.   No to Iran?s nuclear program. 08:32  |  Jean Van Daem 13/09/08
      9.   One step backwards... 10:40  |  David Nigel Braham 13/09/08
      10.   the historyof existance of israel 10:57  |  Falafel 13/09/08
      11.   better late than never 11:22  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 13/09/08
      12.   Too late. Pathetic. Europe ignoring boycotts 11:28  |  Elly 13/09/08
      13.   To Falafel 12:14  |  Vitaly 13/09/08
      14.   In the end a worthless gesture by hte US 14:50  |  spyguy 13/09/08
      15.   Not again 15:27  |  A Tired American 13/09/08
      16.   Why? 15:32  |  A tired American 13/09/08
      17.   Iran 15:39  |  THE TEACHER/INSTRUCT 13/09/08
      18.   spyguy get real #1 15:41  |  X-MILITARY 13/09/08
      19.   FALAFEL OR HUMUS...... 15:47  |  hertzel 13/09/08
      20.   Want some cheese with that whine? 16:11  |  Arie 13/09/08
      21.   "Unjustifiable...infidels", they shout,,, 17:06  |  Stephen 13/09/08
      22.   #16 american gives tired speech about us policies 17:26  |  v.hardman 13/09/08
      23.   Trade of any sort... 18:12  |  Rob of melbourne 13/09/08
      24.   Yoo hoo Mr. Falafel! 19:43  |  Murray the Mongoose 13/09/08
      25.   Back Off US! 19:53  |  Persian Hero 13/09/08
      26.   Iran threatens world war and complains about losing money! 23:00  |  Realist 13/09/08
      27.   #23 Realist, not aptly named 00:41  |  ballistic 14/09/08
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      29.   ballistic 10:19  |  THE TEACHER/INSTRUCT 14/09/08
      30.   Iran is not a threat to America. 15:44  |  American in NY 14/09/08
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