With Agency Reports
The United States hit Iran’s oil and petrochemicals sectors with new sanctions on Friday in response to Tehran’s October 1 attack against Israel, designating dozens of new companies and firms.
The US Treasury Department said it was going after Iran’s so-called “ghost fleet” of ships involved in selling Iranian oil in circumvention of existing sanctions, designating 10 companies and 17 vessels as “blocked property” over their involvement in shipments of Iranian petroleum and petrochemical products.
The US State Department also announced it was slapping sanctions on six other firms and six ships for “knowingly engaging in a significant transaction for the purchase, acquisition, sale, transport, or marketing of petroleum or petroleum products from Iran.”
Sanctions blocking or designating firms, span entities in the United Arab Emirates, Liberia, Hong Kong, Suriname, India, Malaysia and Hong Kong.
“Today’s sanctions target Iranian efforts to channel revenues from its energy industry to finance deadly and disruptive activities — including development of its nuclear program, the proliferation of ballistic missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles,” US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said in a statement.
The United States “will not hesitate to take further action to hold Iran accountable,” Yellen said.
- Bournemouth Humiliate Manchester United 3-0 at Old Trafford as Carrick Faces Mounting Pressure
Bournemouth delivered another painful blow to Manchester United on Sunday,… - Tragedy in Kogi: Police Corporal Allegedly Kills Female Colleague, Takes Own Life After Reported Relationship Crisis
A tragic shooting incident involving two serving police officers has…
The sanctions form part of the US response to Iran’s attack, in which it fired some 200 ballistic missiles against Israel after the killing of Tehran-backed terrorist leaders and a general from Iran’s Revolutionary Guards.
Israel has said its response to Iran’s second direct attack against its territory this year will be “deadly, precise and surprising.”
US President Joe Biden told reporters last week that Israel should consider “other alternatives than striking oil fields,” amid reports it was planning to do so.
His national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, said the sanctions are being announced after the president consulted with America’s allies and partners.
“These measures will help further deny Iran financial resources used to support its missile programs and provide support for terrorist groups that threaten the United States, its allies, and partners,” Sullivan said in a statement.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Washington had made clear after the October 1 attack that Tehran would face consequences.
“To that end, we are taking steps today to disrupt the flow of revenue the Iranian regime uses to fund its nuclear program and missile development, support terrorist proxies and partners, and perpetuate conflict throughout the Middle East,” he said in a statement.
