Washington expands sanctions to cover Iran's rail and automotive sectors
The US Treasury imposed new sanctions on Iran's railway and automotive sectors and on foreign suppliers to those sectors, in a step announced on Thursday. The measures fall under the "economic exclusion" operation announced on 24 August, which the Treasury says aims to drain financial resources Tehran uses to fund war, missile production, cyberattacks and the Revolutionary Guards. The designations include carmakers Iran Khodro and Saipa, which the Treasury says account for more than 90 per cent of Iran's domestic car market, and the state-owned Islamic Republic of Iran Railways, along with the Raja passenger rail company and Rahahan Cargo and Transport.
Why it matters: The designations extend the sanctions theme from maritime enforcement to Iran's overland transport and manufacturing sectors, which Tehran has relied on more heavily since the naval blockade halted oil shipments.