U.S. cranks up pressure on Iran with new sanctions crackdown
The United States will not tolerate Iran's destructive and destabilizing behavior and is sanctioning an international network funneling illegal revenue to the Iranian army, stated Tammy Bruce, the spokesperson for the U.S. Department of State, on Thursday.
The President of the United States, Donald Trump, announced on Wednesday a return to the "maximum pressure" strategy on Iran. He signed an order aimed at intensifying sanctions against Tehran. The U.S. Department of State provided the first details about these restrictions the following day.
As noted in the press statement, Washington targeted an international network involved in the sanctioned sale of oil from Iran.
"The United States will not tolerate Iran’s destructive and destabilizing behavior and is today sanctioning an international network that channels illicit revenue to the Iranian military. This network is being designated for facilitating millions of barrels of illicit Iranian oil shipments to China to fund Iran’s Armed Forces General Staff through its front company Sepehr Energy. Proceeds of these sales support terrorist and proxy groups," stated Tammy Bruce, the spokesperson for the U.S. Department of State.
The statement indicated that the U.S. sanctions are "targeting shadow fleet vessels and management companies that transported Iranian oil."
"We will disrupt illicit funding streams financing Iran’s armed forces and terrorist groups, such as Hamas and Hizballah. We will use all tools at our disposal to hold the regime accountable for its destabilizing activities and pursuit of nuclear weapons that threaten the civilized world," wrote Bruce.
Details on U.S. sanctions against Iran
The U.S. Treasury Department provided more information about the restrictions. It was stated that all assets and interests belonging to sanctioned persons that are in the U.S. or in the possession of U.S. citizens are blocked. Violations of the sanctions may result in civil or criminal penalties.
Among the entities sanctioned are Sepehr Energy and its related companies. Additionally, companies and individuals from China, India, and the United Arab Emirates were included on the list.
"The Comoros-flagged and sanctioned oil tanker ANTHEA (IMO: 9281683), currently known as the SIRI, is operating off the coast of Singapore laden with millions of barrels of Iranian crude oil in the interest of Sepehr Energy and the AFGS. The SIRI is obfuscating its identity by operating as the NEW PRIME. Iranian national Arash Lavian (Lavian) serves as the SIRI’s master and has taken steps to falsify shipping documents and physically hide the true name of the SIRI to conceal that the vessel is sanctioned," the statement published on Thursday (February 6) said.
It was added that the actions of the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) are intended not only to punish but also to change behaviors, and individuals and companies may apply for removal from the sanctions list if they meet specific conditions.
"I really want to see peace, and I hope that we're able to do that. They cannot have a nuclear weapon," said Donald Trump, signing the order that reinstates the "maximum pressure" policy on Iran.
