Iran shipping firm rejects UK allegations

Iran's state shipping company has dismissed as 'sheer lies' Britain's accusations that the company's vessels have transported goods related to Iran's nuclear program.

Britain on Monday said it had ordered financial companies to stop all business with Iran's Bank Mellat and the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines (IRISL).

Bank Mellat said the ban would not lead to the blocking of its assets in Britain.

London accused the two Iranian firms of facilitating Tehran's 'sensitive nuclear and ballistic missile activities in defiance of five UN Security Council Resolutions'.

The UK Treasury said in a statement that the IRISL vessels 'have transported goods for both Iran's ballistic missile and nuclear program'.

“The transfer of nuclear goods by the company [IRISL] is a baseless claim,” the IRISL said in a statement on Tuesday. “Our activities are completely in line with international regulations. The British government has not offered any evidence in this case.”
Iran's state shipping company stressed that the ban would not have any effect on its activities as 'there has already been little cooperation' between the IRISL and British firms.

Bank Mellat also said in a Tuesday statement that the ban 'does not mean sanctions and would not lead to a blocking of the bank's assets' in Britain.

Last year, the United States imposed three Iranian banks — Mellat, Melli and Saderat — accusing them of financing Iran's nuclear activities, which some Western countries claim are aimed at developing nuclear weapons.

Iran has categorically denied the allegation, which runs counter to the UN nuclear watchdog's reports confirming the civilian nature of the country's nuclear program.