Iran is continuing to use front companies and other concealment methods to circumvent U.N. sanctions but the bans have succeeded in slowing its nuclear and ballistic missile programs, according to a report by U.N. experts obtained Tuesday by The Associated Press, Hurriyet reports.
The expert panel said sanctions have made it harder, costlier and riskier for Iran to acquire items needed for its banned nuclear and missile activities.
"At the same time, Iran's circumvention of sanctions across all areas, in particular the use of front companies, concealment methods in shipping, financial transactions and the transfer of conventional arms and related materiel is willful and continuing," the panel said. "Iran maintains its uranium enrichment and heavy water-related activities ... and in the area of ballistic missiles, continues to test missiles and engage in prohibited procurement."
It said most violations of the ban on Iran exporting conventional arms involve Syria, its neighbor and ally.
The U.N. Security Council imposed a fourth round of sanctions against Iran in June for refusing to suspend uranium enrichment and start negotiations with the U.S., Russia, China, Britain, France and Germany on its suspect nuclear program.
The eight-member panel was appointed in November to assess implementation of the sanctions. Security Council diplomats said its final report to the council committee monitoring sanctions against Iran could be made public as early as Thursday.
The new sanctions target Iran's powerful Revolutionary Guard Corps, which controls companies and organizations that have links to weapons proliferation, as well as companies or organizations involved in nuclear or ballistic missile activities and linked to the government controlled Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines.
In the report, the panel said the Revolutionary Guard Corps' influence on decision-making on nuclear and ballistic missile programs "is regarded as increasing through its growing political, economic and social power."
Elements of the Revolutionary Guard, known as the IRGC, are engaged in a wide range of prohibited activities, including acquiring material and technology for its nuclear and ballistic missile programs, smuggling banned material and weapons, and establishing front companies to evade sanctions, it said.
While the latest sanctions order the freezing of financial assets of 15 companies and organizations linked to the Revolutionary Guard, along with some individual guard members, the panel said this is only a "limited number" of those involved in illegal activities.
