Agence France Presse – The US government has imposed sanctions on Chinese, Russian and North Korean companies for selling missiles and other weapons to Iran and Syria, the Washington Times reported Friday, citing US administration officials.
The three Chinese state-run companies, three Russian firms and a North Korean mining company were sanctioned under the Iran and Syria Nonproliferation Act in 2005, the Times reported.
The sanctions prevent US government business and support to the companies for two years, and blocks US firms from selling certain items to them, according to the Times.
The newspaper described the sanctions as symbolic, but US officials said they have been effective in singling out the companies for public shaming.
Officials told the Times the sales included missiles to Syria, and weapons and weapons-related sales to both Iran and Syria.