The measures also hit Lebanon's Hezbollah movement -- already targetted by numerous US sanctions as a designated terrorist group -- a Pakistani national and companies from Malaysia, Singapore and Mexico.

The 14 were accused of transferring to or buying from Iran or Syria materials related to cruise or ballistic missile systems or weapons of mass destruction.

Under the Iran and Syria Nonproliferation Act, the 14 are barred from doing business with or receiving aid from any US government agencies for two years.

State Department officials refused to elaborate on specific charges against any of the named entities, saying this could reveal classified intelligence information.

But the penalties were largely symbolic since a number of the targetted entities are already subject to US sanctions, one official said on condition of anonymity.

The listed entities included the China National Precision Machinery Import/Export Corporation, the Shanghai Non-Ferrous Metals Pudong Development Trade Company and the Zibo Chemet Equipment Company (China).

Also listed were Sokkia Singapore PTE Ltd., Challenger Corporation and Target Airfreight of Malaysia, Aerospace Logistics Services of Mexico and Pakistani national Arif Durrani.

In Syria, the sanctions target the Air Force, Navy, Army Supply Bureau and Industrial Establishment of Defense.

An official in the State Department's nonproliferation bureau was unable to say if the Syrian military departments had been the object of previous US sanctions.

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