Australia imposes new sanctions on Iranian companies

Australia said today it has imposed new sanctions against two Iranian companies and an Iranian general to protest against Tehran's nuclear programme.

The new financial and trade sanctions were in addition to those adopted by the UN Security Council last week, Australian foreign minister Stephen Smith told parliament.

The targeted individual is General Rostam Qasemi, commander of Khatem ol-Anbiya Construction Organisation, a company owned by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and listed in the latest Security Council sanctions.

General Qasemi and two companies - Bank Mellat and the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Line (IRSL) - "assist Iran to violate its obligations" under UN resolutions, Mr Smith said.

Bank Mellat conducted financial transactions, while IRSL ships carried goods involved in Iran's nuclear and missile programmes, he said.

Subsidiaries of both companies have been listed in the latest UN sanctions.

Australia has now imposed autonomous sanctions against 21 Iranian individuals - who are barred from travelling to Australia - and 20 organisations in Iran since October 2008.

The Australian move followed European foreign ministers' decision on Monday to recommend a new set of sanctions against Iran beyond those adopted by the Security Council.

The Security Council last week imposed a fourth round of sanctions in response to Tehran's refusal to halt uranium enrichment, which Iran maintains is only for its nuclear energy programme, but could conceivably be used to produce material for weapons.

The new UN sanctions call for an asset freeze of another 40 additional companies and organisations, including 22 involved in nuclear or ballistic missile activities.