Iran's neighboring countries and the U.S. blame Iran for an March 13th strike on Irbil in Iraq and repeated missile strikes into Saudi Arabia by Iranian-backed Houthi fighters from Yemen.
A Houthi missile attack set ablaze an oil storage facility at Saudi Aramco on Friday. This prompted angry Saudi leaders to warn that the attack threatened the stability and security of the global oil market.
In announcing the sanctions, Treasury Undersecretary Brian Nelson stated that even though the U.S. is carrying out indirect talks with Iran to revive limits on Iran's nuke program, it will continue to impose penalties against those involved.
Nelson stated in a statement that Iran will be held responsible for gross violations of sovereignty and other regional partners.
Wednesday's sanctions were announced by the Treasury Department. They target an Iran-based procurement agency and his companies that helped to acquire propellant-related materials in Iran's missile research program.
An executive order that targeted producers and supporters supporting weapons of mass destruction authorized the sanctions. The sanctions allow the U.S. block assets of sanctioned persons and entities and prosecute those who do business with them.
Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are at war with Iranian-backed Houthi rebels, who have seized large parts of northern Yemen. Iran's Revolutionary Guard claimed responsibility in the strike on Erbil that took place March 13, and said it was targeting an Israeli strategic centre there.
