US Department of Justice reports blocking more than 30 Iranian websites
The US Department of Justice blocked 33 Iranian sites used by the Iranian Islamic Radio and Television Union (IRTVU), and three sites controlled by the pro-Iranian group Kataib Hezbollah (banned in Russia).
The department said that the sites were blocked by a court order, as they were used in violation of sanctions.
The US Department of Justice recalled that in October last year, the US Treasury added IRTVU to its sanctions list. Washington believes that the IRTVU spread disinformation in order to influence the outcome of the US elections. Individuals and entities included in the sanctions list are prohibited from “receiving services in the United States,” including the use of Internet sites and domains, without obtaining a license from the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) of the US Treasury. It was found that the blocked 33 domains belong to a US company. However, IRTVU did not have a license from OFAC.
The US Treasury also imposed sanctions against Kataib Hezbollah in 2009. The US State Department, in turn, ranked the organization as terrorist.
Earlier, former US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo said that Washington should not negotiate with the current Iranian government and called on the US authorities to campaign for maximum pressure.
