US Warns Pakistan of Possible Sanctions over Trade Deal with Iran

Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi, currently on a three-day visit to Pakistan, met Shehbaz Sharif on Monday. During the meeting, the US State Department Principal Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel emphasized the US’s efforts to disrupt and take actions against proliferation networks and weapons of mass destruction procurement activities, particularly in relation to suppliers to Pakistan’s Ballistic Missile Program. Patel advised caution to anyone considering business deals with Iran, warning of the potential risk of sanctions. Following the visit, the two countries signed eight bilateral agreements.

However, the US spokesperson raised concerns that these relations could be jeopardized by sanctions due to Iran’s standing in the international community. The discussions between Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and President Raisi highlighted their shared vision for advancing political, economic, trade, and cultural ties. The agreements signed by Iran and Pakistan cover diverse areas including veterinary and animal health, judicial support in civil cases, and security matters. The US has imposed sanctions on entities that have supplied missile-applicable items to Pakistan’s ballistic missile program, including those based in Belarus and China.

In particular, the Belarus-based Minsk Wheel Tractor Plant is said to have supplied special vehicle chassis to Pakistan’s long-range ballistic missile program. The US has also imposed sanctions on three Chinese entities for their involvement in supplying materials to Pakistan’s missile program. Please note that the headline is unchanged, but the rest of the story has been rephrased to improve readability.