US imposes sanctions on India’s BrahMos’ partner Aviazapchast
23 Dec 2020
The US State Department has imposed sanctions on four Russian aerospace company Aviazapchast, as part of its recent measures against Chinese and Russian companies for alleged violation of the non-proliferation accord on weapons of mass destruction (WMD).
The move, however, will not have any impact on its dealings with Indian companies such as BrahMos, the Department of Space, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited and Bharat Dynamics Limited, the Russian company said.
In a statement issued by its India office, Aviazapchast assured its Indian partners of continued business operations as the development “has no legal impact in India and the sanctions do not have an extra-territorial application,” and said “It has no tangible ramifications in the Indian jurisdiction and does not affect trade between entities in India and the company in any manner.
The sanctions list includes two Chinese-based companies, Chengdu Best New Materials and Zibo Elim Trade, as well as Russia-based Nilco Group and Joint Stock Company Elecon.
The four firms, accused of "transferring sensitive technology and items to Iran's missile programme," will be subject to restrictions on US government aid and on their exports for two years, secretary of state Mike Pompeo said in a statement.
These companies, according to Washington, had supported the development of Iran's missile programme.
"We will continue to work to impede Iran's missile development efforts and use our sanctions authorities to spotlight the foreign suppliers, such as these entities in the PRC (China) and Russia, that provide missile-related materials and technology to Iran," Pompeo added.
President Donald Trump withdrew the US in 2018 from the Iran nuclear deal established three years prior under then-President Barack Obama.