UAE | Government

UAE tightens noose on front companies

Operations of any company in the UAE proved to have connections with the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), other entities or individuals subject to the UN asset freeze will immediately be shut down," the source said

By Samir Salama, Associate Editor
Published: 00:00 June 21, 2010

Abu Dhabi: The UAE authorities are tightening the noose on companies the UN calls fronts for Iran's nuclear weapons industry, official sources told Gulf News.

"Operations of any company in the UAE proved to have connections with the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), other entities or individuals subject to the UN asset freeze will immediately be shut down," the source said.

The move came after the UN Security Council slapped its fourth round of sanctions against Iran over its nuclear programme, targeting in particular the IRGC. The UAE has shut down more than 40 international and local companies as part of a crackdown on illegally dealing in strategic dual-use equipment and materials and money laundering, the source said, on condition of anonymity.

"The companies were proved to have been involved in proliferation of dual-use and dangerous materials banned under UN resolutions and the nuclear non-proliferation NPT treaty," said the source, who declined to name these companies or the nationalities of their owners.

"The UAE is committed to meet its obligations towards the global effort for non-proliferation," the source said.

Removed

On June 10, one day after the Security Council imposed the strongest sanctions yet against Tehran, an Iranian businessman asked to have his name removed from a Dubai-based company connected with the Iranian Revolutionary Guards, according to court and other documents obtained by Gulf News.

Last year, Dubai authorities blocked the sale to Iran by the Dubai-based company Scientechnic of equipment manufactured by the German electronics company Siemens, which has since given an undertaking not to supply any of the company's equipment to Iran.

The UN Security Council's resolution 1929 targeted 40 new Iranian companies, including 15 linked to the Revolutionary Guards.

Javed Rahiqi, who heads the Atomic Energy Organisation of Iran's Esfahan Nuclear Technology Centre, was added to the previous list of 40 Iranians subject to an asset freeze.

Documents

The sanctions list also includes 22 companies involved in alleged nuclear or ballistic missile activities and three entities linked to the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines.

The resolution requires UN members to conduct cargo inspections of Iranian vessels under certain conditions and slaps new restrictions on Iranian imports of conventional weapons.

There are 22 listed entities, ranging from Doostan International Co., which supplies elements to Iran's ballistic missile programme, to the First East Export Bank, which is owned or controlled by Bank Mellat.

Documents obtained by Gulf News show there are several companies operating in the UAE which are directly or indirectly linked to the IRGC.