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The Exchequer Secretary Sarah McCarthy-Fry disclosed on Friday that British firms have been asked to put an end all the business deals which they are maintaining with two Iranian firms, which have been alleged to have link up with Tehran's nuclear programme.
Bank Mellat and the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines, the two firms mentioned by Britain, have been charged for supporting Iranian government's nuclear and ballistic missile programmes.
McCarthy-Fry has also accused the use of British vessels by these firms for transporting goods which are sued by Tehran’s nuclear programmes. The bank has been accused for lending financial aid for carrying out these nuke programmes.
The British firms have been asked not to enter into any new ventures with the firms, along with the severing of all the existing business relationships, expect for some special cases, which have received the approval of the British Treasury.
"We cannot and will not ignore specific activities by Iranian companies, which we know to be facilitating activity identified by the UN as being of concern, particularly where such activities have the potential to affect the UK's interests," McCarthy-Fry said.
