Iran's top trade official has denied that a public company in Iran, which does not recognise the Jewish state, bought a ship from an Israeli firm as claimed by Washington, local media said on Sunday.
"Based on the laws of the country, any kind of trade or economic transaction with the Zionist regime and its affiliated firms is against the law," the chairman of Iran's Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Mines (ICCIM), Mohammad Nahavandian, was quoted as saying.
"The news regarding the activities of Zionist firms in regard to Iran is a new game which has surfaced in reaction to other nations welcoming establishing economic ties with Iran," Nahavandian said.
"Thus they (West powers) are naming some Zionist firms as engaged in doing business with Iran."
On May 24, the United States announced new sanctions against Iran, targeting foreign firms including the Israeli firm Ofer Brothers Group.
The firm is accused of selling a tanker for $8.6 million to Iranian shipping company Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines (IRISL) in September 2010 in violation of UN sanctions imposed on Tehran over its controversial nuclear programme.