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The U.S. Treasury Department has cited four Chinese companies and a U.S. firm for supplying missile-related components to Iran.

The designation bans all American transactions with the firms and imposes a freeze on any assets the companies may have under U.S. jurisdiction.

The Treasury Department says the five companies have provided or attempted to provide Iran's military and other Iranian entities with financial, material or technological assistance for missile programs.

The four Chinese companies are Beijing Alite Technologies, LIMMT Economic and Trade Company, China Great Wall Industry Corporation, and China National Precision Machinery Import - Export Corporation. The U.S. company is California-based GW Aerospace, a U.S. representative of China Great Wall. 

The U.S. goverment has applied various sanctions against the same Chinese companies in the past.

The Treasury Department says the action is part of efforts to combat trafficking of weapons of mass destruction by financially isolating the entities and individuals involved.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.