U.S. imposes sanctions on Iran's military

WASHINGTON, Oct. 25 (UPI) -- The U.S. government Thursday issued a new wave of sanctions against Iran, focusing on the country's military, for its nuclear development activities.

The State and Treasury departments designated Iranian entities and individuals associated with Iran's military and banking community as proliferators and supporters of terrorism.

The designations are included in sanctions against Iran to counter that country's "bid for nuclear capabilities and support for terrorism" by naming banks, companies and individuals and cutting them off from the U.S. financial system, the Treasury Department said in a fact sheet.

The U.S. government designated as proliferators the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and the Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics.

The Treasury Department included nine people as "derivatives" of the revolutionary guard, Iran's state-owned banks Melli and Mellat, and three individuals affiliated with Iran's Aerospace Industries Organization.

Also listed were the Quds Force for providing material support to Taliban and other terrorist organizations, and Iran's state-owned Bank Saderat as a terrorist financier.

"Iran exploits its global financial ties to pursue nuclear capabilities, develop ballistic missiles and fund terrorism," Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson Jr. said in a statement. "Today, we are taking additional steps to combat Iran's dangerous conduct ... "