Firms Face Penalties for Illicit Exports

The Clinton administration said it will penalize up to nine Russian enterprises found to have sold sensitive technology to Iran, Libya or North Korea that could be used for weapons of mass destruction. At the same time, the White House applauded the Russian government for establishing an investigative commission that uncovered the illicit exports. The commission threatened administrative and criminal charges against the enterprises, the Itar-Tass news agency reported in Moscow. The U.S. will conduct its own review, suspending any U.S. government program providing assistance to the firms and also imposing trade restrictions.