Washington, August 5 :

The US has imposed sanctions on two Indian and five other companies from Russia, North Korea and Cuba for allegedly supplying banned equipment and technology to Iran.

These include two chemical manufacturers from India — Balaji Amines Ltd and Prachi Poly Products Ltd. But the announcement in the US Federal Register yesterday, which lists all government actions, did not specify what items were involved. Imposed for allegedly violating a law aimed at preventing the spread of weapons of mass destruction to Tehran, the sanctions put a ban on US government procurement and stop American firms from working with affected companies. Also sanctioned were Russian aircraft manufacturer Sukhoi and Rosoboronexport, a state-controlled arms exporter, Korean Mining and Industrial Development Corp and Korea Pugang Trading Corp, both North Korean, and Cuba’s Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology.

The sanctions, however, apply only to the specific entities and their successors, sub-units or subsidiaries and not to their respective countries or governments. Though listed yesterday, the sanctions under the Iran Non-proliferation Act 2000 became effective from July 28.

The Washington Post reported that the Bush administration had taken a ‘secret decision’ to impose sanctions on the two Indian firms.