“We’re going to continue to disrupt and take actions against proliferation networks and concerning weapons of mass destruction procurement activities wherever they may occur,” said US state department principal deputy spokesperson Vedant Patel.
He advised anyone considering business deals with Iran to be aware of the potential risk of sanctions, while acknowledging that the government of Pakistan can speak to their own foreign policy pursuits.
“Just let me say broadly, 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 to their own foreign policy pursuits,” Patel said.
Patel explained that the sanctions were imposed because the entities, based in China and Belarus, were found to have supplied equipment and other items to Pakistan’s ballistic missile program. He specifically mentioned that these entities were proliferators of weapons of mass destruction and the means of their delivery.
“The sanctions were made because these were entities that were proliferators of weapons of mass destruction and the means of their delivery. These were entities based in the PRC (People’s Republic of China), in Belarus, and that we have witnessed to have supplied equipment and other applicable items to Pakistan’s ballistic missile programme,” Patel said.
In light of the recent visit of Iranian President Raisi to Pakistan and the signing of eight bilateral agreements between the two countries, Patel hinted at the possibility of these relations being affected by sanctions due to Iran’s standing in the international community. The agreements covered areas such as veterinary and animal health, judicial support in civil cases, and security matters.
Last week, the US State Department designated four entities, including Belarus-based Minsk Wheel Tractor Plant and three Chinese entities, for targeting proliferators of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery. These entities were found to have supplied missile-applicable items to Pakistan’s ballistic missile program, including its long-range missile program.
(With inputs from agencies)
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