US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a Tuesday statement that the sanctions would target both the space agency and two of its research institutions, the Washington Examiner reported.
“The United States will not allow Iran to use its space launch program as cover to advance its ballistic missile programs. Iran’s Aug. 29 attempt to launch a space launch vehicle underscores the urgency of the threat,” Pompeo, the former CIA chief, said.
“These designations should serve as a warning to the international scientific community that collaborating with Iran’s space program could contribute to Tehran’s ability to develop a nuclear weapon delivery system,” he further alleged.
Iran has in recent years made great headways in the space technology thanks to the efforts made by its local scientists.
The country successfully launched its first indigenous data-processing satellite, Omid (Hope), into orbit in February 2009.
In February 2017, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani unveiled 3 new achievements in the space industry.
In July 2017, Iran inaugurated the Imam Khomeini National Space Center with the successful test-launch of a homegrown satellite carrier dubbed Simorgh.
The center, home to Iran’s first fixed launch platform, administrates the development, launch, and navigation of Iranian satellite carriers.