The State Department announced that “sanctions against the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines (IRISL) and its Shanghai-based subsidiary, E-Sail Shipping Company Ltd (E-Sail), have come into effect... any government, entity or individual that chooses to continue doing business with IRISL and/or E-Sail now risks exposure to U.S. WMD sanctions”. “These designations serve as a clear warning that anyone doing business with or otherwise supporting IRISL or E-Sail … risk contributing to Iran’s proliferation-sensitive programs, including its nuclear and missile programs”, the statement noted, adding: “we urge government authorities worldwide to investigate all IRISL and E-Sail activity in your ports and territorial seas and take appropriate action to put a halt to it”.