US Treasury names Iran firms weapons proliferators

WASHINGTON, Feb 16 (Reuters) Stepping up the Bush administration's financial pressure on Iran over its nuclear program, the US Treasury Department labeled three Iranian companies today as proliferators of weapons of mass destruction, banning US transactions with them.

The Treasury, invoking an executive order recently used against Iranian state-owned banks, said it would also seek to freeze any US assets of Kalaye Electric Co, Kavoshyar Co and Pioneer Energy Industries Co.

It said the companies are either owned by, controlled by or acting for the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, the government agency that manages Iran's overall nuclear program.

''Treasury is taking this action to deny Iran access to the materials and services that support its nuclear ambitions,'' Stuart Levey, the Treasury's under secretary for for terrorism and financial intelligence, said in a statement. He added that the action was consistent with the UN Security Council's recent resolution aimed curbing Iran's nuclear program.

REUTERS KR BD2233