30/03/2011 10:13
U.S. imposes sanctions on Belarusneft for cooperation with Iran
The United States has imposed sanctions on the Belarusian state energy company, Belarusneft, for cooperation with Iran, the Department of State announced on Tuesday, according to ITAR-TASS.
State Department spokesman Mark Toner said the U.S. move bars Belarusneft from receiving aid from the U.S. Export-Import Bank, from obtaining U.S. government export licenses, from getting private U.S. bank loans of more than $10 million in any 12-month period and from winning U.S. government contracts, Reuters reported.
The spokesman said he was not aware of Belarusneft having any such loans or any intent of getting into the U.S. market but he said the sanctions would prevent it from doing so in the future and deter other companies from Iranian investments.
"They limit the company's ability to access the U.S. market and, even if they don't have any U.S. commercial activities at present, they will limit their options to operate in the U.S. in the future," Toner told reporters at his daily briefing.