U.S. Includes Syria in Ban on Sales of Weapons Chemicals

The United States today extended to Syria a ban on sale of chemicals used to manufacture chemical weapons.

The ban had been imposed two years ago on such sales to Iran and Iraq to hinder their further use in the 7-year-old Iran-Iraq war.

State Department spokesman Marvin Kalb said the government was concerned that Syria may have chemical weapons capability and noted that Syria has taken Iran’s side in the war.

Iraq has been accused of using chemical weapons in the war and Iran has not, but, Kalb said, “Their continued use by Iraq and the potential for Iranian use is a cause for concern.”

Kalb was not immediately able to say what specific chemicals were involved, how much commerce between the United States and Syria would be affected and what evidence led the government to extend the ban to Syria.