Washington:
The US warned Pakistan on Tuesday (local time) of “a potential risk of sanctions”, adding that it will continue to disrupt and take action against proliferation networks, considering business deals with Iran.
Stressing that the US is imposing sanctions on suppliers of Pakistan's ballistic missile program, US State Department Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel said: “We will continue to disrupt and take action against proliferation networks and with regard to procurement of weapons of mass destruction wherever they arise. …Let me say broadly that we advise anyone considering business deals with Iran to be aware of the potential risk of sanctions. But ultimately, the government of Pakistan can speak out their own foreign policy activities.”
Replying to a question on the rationale behind these sanctions, Patel, while addressing the press, said, “The sanctions were imposed because these were entities that were proliferators of weapons of mass destruction and the means of their delivery.”
He said these entities were based in China and Belarus.
“These were entities based in the PRC in Belarus that we have seen supplying equipment and other items to Pakistan's ballistic missile program…,” he added.
Further, Patel highlighted the Iranian President's visit to Pakistan and the MOUs signed between the two countries, and advised to be aware of the potential risk of sanctions for anyone considering doing business deals with Iran.
In the wake of President Raisi's three-day visit to Pakistan, eight bilateral agreements signed by the two countries, the spokesperson hinted at the possibility that these relations could be jeopardized by sanctions due to Iran's position in the international community.
Led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif from the Pakistani side and President Raisi representing Iran, the discussions underlined the shared vision of promoting political, economic, trade and cultural ties between the two nations, Samaa said.
Earlier in the day, Iran and Pakistan signed eight memoranda of understanding for cooperation in a range of areas. Prime Minister Shehbaz and Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi witnessed the signing ceremony of the MoU.
The agreements include cooperation in veterinary and animal health, legal support in civil cases and security issues.
Last week, the US state designated four entities focused on the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery. These entities have supplied missile-capable items to Pakistan's ballistic missile program, including its long-range missile program.
The entities include the Belarus-based Minsk Wheel Tractor Plant, which has been working to supply special vehicle chassis for Pakistan's long-range missile program.
Furthermore, it imposed sanctions on three Chinese entities, including “Xi'an Longde Technology Development Company Limited”, “Tianjin Creative Source International Trade Co Ltd” and “Granpect Company Limited”.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Our staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)