WASHINGTON
The U.S. sanctioned three Syrian companies and a Syrian central bank official Tuesday.
The actions seek to stymy Syria’s weapons programs, according to a statement from the Treasury Department.
“The Assad regime is not only a gross violator of human rights – it also continues to engage in dangerous weapons proliferation,” said acting under secretary for terrorism and financial intelligence Adam J. Szubin. “We are determined to use our financial tools to raise the costs to the Syrian government of its illicit activities.”
Batoul Rida, a Syrian central bank official since 2010, was designated for activities that the department said helped to facilitate Syria’s military campaign. She has managed fuel deals for Syria’s central bank, and facilitated cash transfers with U.S.-sanctioned Tempbank, according to the Treasury Department.
In addition to Rida, the department blacklisted Syria-based Sigma Tech Company, and Lebanon-based companies Shadi for Cars Trading, and Denise Company.
All three companies are shell companies for Syria’s Scientific Studies and Research Center, a defense firm sanctioned by the U.S. in 2005 for links to Syria’s “weapons of mass destruction-proliferation activities,” the Treasury Department said.
Sigma Tech is involved in shipments of polyethylene film for the weapons firm, while the Lebanon-based companies are used as consignee companies, according to the Treasury Department.
