United States punishes Moldavian companies for cooperating with Iran

The Administration of President George Bush Jr. extended the duration of economic sanctions spearheaded against two Moldavian companies, i.e. Cuanta and Computer & Communicati, as well as against Moldavian businessman Mikhail Vladov. This was disclosed to reporters in Washington by the US State Department's spokesman Richard Boucher.

According to Boucher, Vladov and these two Moldavian companies have contributed to Iran's missile programs. The US side believes that they have thus violated the missile-technologies non-proliferation regime.

The US Government had first imposed sanctions on Vladov and both companies in May 2002, that is, when they were accused of delivering outlawed technologies to Iran.

The decision to impose new sanctions means that they will remain valid for a period of two more years in line with US legislation.