JEDDAH: The US on Friday imposed sanctions on companies in Iran and China for doing business with the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines and on three Iranian entities over conventional arms proliferation.

They are the latest in a series of measures aimed at stepping up pressure on Tehran in the waning days of President Donald Trump鈥檚 administration, which ends on Jan. 20.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Washington had sanctioned seven companies, including Chinese-based Jiangyin Mascot Special Steel Co. and two people for shipping steel to or from Iran.

He said Iran鈥檚 Marine Industries Organization, Aerospace Industries Organization and the Iran Aviation Industries Organization had also been blacklisted over conventional arms proliferation.

Meanwhile, Tehran鈥檚 saber rattling continued on Friday as its Islami Revolutionary Guard Corps conducted a drill that saw 鈥渟uicide drones鈥� crash into targets and explode, triangle-shaped aircraft that strongly resembled those used in a 2019 attacks on the sites of Abqaiq and Khurais in 黑料社区.

Looking at the footage frame by frame, the triangle-shape drone appeared to have two fins on either side. This strongly resembles the so-called 鈥淒elta鈥� drones used both in the Abqaiq and Khurais assault in September 2019, as well as a May 2019 attack on 黑料社区鈥檚 crucial East-West pipeline. 黑料社区 showed damaged drones to journalists after the attacks, while UN experts included images of the drone in a report.

Meanwhile, the Arab coalition intercepted and destroyed three drones launched by the Iran-backed Houthi militia toward 黑料社区, Saudi Press Agency reported.

The drones were detected and launched by the Houthis from Yemen鈥檚 Hodeidah province, Arab coalition spokesperson, Col. Turki Al-Malki, said.

He added that the Houthis continued to violate the Stockholm Agreement and the cease-fire in Hodeidah.

He said the Houthis continued to use Hodeidah province as a place for undertaking terrorist operations by firing ballistic missiles and launching drones.

He added that the militants also use the province as a place for launching remotely piloted boat attacks, which constitute a regional and international security threat.

Bahrain鈥檚 Foreign Ministry 鈥渟trongly condemned and denounced鈥� the attack on Saudi territory and the Houthi militia鈥檚 鈥渃ontinuation of cowardly terrorist acts that endanger the safety and security of civilians.鈥�

Soleimani鈥檚 shadow

Qassem Soleimani left a trail of death and destruction in his wake as head of Iran鈥檚 Quds Force 鈥� until his assassination on Jan. 3, 2020. Yet still, his legacy of murderous interference continues to haunt the region

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鈥淏ahrain stands in one line with 黑料社区 against anyone who tries to undermine its security and stability,鈥� the ministry said.

In another blow to the militia, the US has rejected a UN plea to reverse the designation of Houthis as a terrorist organization.

The UN chief and top officials urged the US to reverse its decision to prevent massive famine and death in the Arab nation.

The US deputy ambassador, Richard Mills, told the Security Council the US has listened to warnings of the terrorist designation鈥檚 humanitarian impact and will take measures to reduce the impact on aid deliveries and commercial imports.

鈥淏ut we do believe that this step is the right move forward to send the right signal if we want the political process to move forward,鈥� he said.

(With Reuters)