US blacklists Iranians for allegedly providing missile tech to Yemen's Huthis

The US Treasury blacklisted five Iranians who allegedly supplied ballistic missile technology to Yemen's Huthi rebels Tuesday, a day after Washington warned Tehran it faced the "strongest sanctions in history."

The Treasury said the five placed on its sanctions list were linked to an operation by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps to support Huthi attacks on cities in Saudi Arabia, which leads the Gulf coalition fighting the Yemeni rebels.

According to Riyadh, the Huthis have launched more than 130 ballistic missiles at Saudi Arabia since 2015, many of them intercepted by anti-missile defense systems.

In November last year they launched a missile which reached Riyadh, and the attacks have increased this year.

Iran has denied supplying missiles to the Huthis, while the group has insisted that they developed the missiles themselves.

But the United States says it has irrefutable evidence of Iran's involvement.

Actions by the Revolutionary Guards "have enabled the Huthis to launch missiles at Saudi cities and oil infrastructure," said Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin in a statement.

"The United States will not tolerate Iranian support for Huthi rebels who are attacking our close partner, Saudi Arabia. All countries in the region should be on guard to prevent Iran from sending its personnel, weapons, and funds in support of its proxies in Yemen," he said.

Four of the five men hit with sanctions, which aim to lock them out of the global financial system, are senior officials in the Revolutionary Guard Aerospace Forces Al-Ghadir Missile Command.

The fifth was linked to a Revolutionary Guards unit responsible for researching and developing ballistic missiles.

Over the last two weeks, the US Treasury has stepped up sanctions targeting Iran, and especially the Revolutionary Guards, in the wake of President Donald Trump's decision to withdraw from the Iran nuclear deal.

On Monday, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo warned Tehran that it was facing a tougher sanctions regime than it ever experienced as Washington pressures Tehran to disengage from regional hot spots like Syria and Yemen and to stop exporting its ballistic missile technology.

"This sting of sanctions will be painful if the regime does not change its course from the unacceptable and unproductive path it has chosen to one that rejoins the league of nations," said Pompeo.

Related Links
Learn about missile defense at SpaceWar.com
All about missiles at SpaceWar.com

Tweet

Thanks for being there;
We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain.

With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords.

Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year.

If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.

SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter
$5+ Billed Monthly

paypal only

SpaceDaily Contributor
$5 Billed Once

credit card or paypal

Lockheed contracted to support Army's multiple launch rocket system
Washington (UPI) May 21, 2018
Lockheed Martin has been awarded a contract for rocket pods and launch tubes for the Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System. The contract, from the U.S. Army Contracting Command announced Friday by the Defense Department, is valued at more than $20 million. Lockheed will develop and qualify rocket pods and launch tubes in support of future Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System missions, according to the Pentagon. The Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System is an all-weather, armored, self-prop ... read more