Reply #16: U.S. names Iranian bank a weapons proliferator

[Scurrilous]

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"The U.S. Treasury Department named Iran's state-owned Bank Sepah as a proliferator of weapons of mass destruction and said on Tuesday it was urging other countries to help block Iran's nuclear program.

The action against Bank Sepah means no U.S. companies or citizens can do business with it, and any of its assets that come under U.S. jurisdiction will be blocked.

"Bank Sepah is the financial linchpin of Iran's missile procurement network and has actively assisted Iran's pursuit of missiles capable of carrying weapons of mass destruction," said Stuart Levey, Treasury's Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence.

Levey said the United States was urging other nations to join the bid "to deny financial assistance to Iran's nuclear and missile programs," as supported by a recently passed United Nations Security Council resolution.

In addition to Bank Sepah, the Treasury order names Sepah International Plc, a wholly owned subsidiary of Bank Sepah in Britain and the bank's chairman and director, Ahmad Derakhshandeh, as weapons proliferators."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/01/09/AR2007010900503.html