On May 13, the US approved a network of Iranian oil sold to China and used its revenue to fund terrorist activities.
According to the State Department, the network used sales to China to fund ballistic missiles, drones, nuclear development and terrorist proxies.
network
The US Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) approved approximately 20 groups as part of the network on May 13th.
“Today’s actions highlight that they focus on increasing pressure on all aspects of Iran’s oil trade, which the administration uses to fund dangerous and unstable activities,” said the Treasury Department of Finance. “The US will continue to target this major revenue stream as long as the administration continues to support terrorism and the spread of deadly weapons.”
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According to OFAC, Sepehr Energy manages three Hong Kong-based companies that serve as the aspect of brokering and receiving oil cargo for China. One of these companies, Star Energy, has moved tens of millions of dollars for Sepehr energy. Companies Xin Rui Ji and Milen Trading received oil shipments at Chinese ports. The firms are intended and approved to obfuscate the origins of Iranian oil, according to the Ministry of Finance.
Mohammad Korasani Niasari, the official Iranian citizen of Seper Energy, was recognized as being administered the finances of Seper Energy and transferred money from these sales to Iranian military leaders.
CCIC Singapore was authorized, according to OFAC, for acting “consistently” in sales to “conceal the Iranian origins of oil,” through ship-to-ship transfers and potentially forged documents. Sister company Huangdao Inspection and Certification Co. provides similar services and is licensed.
The latest sanctions also target Chinese, one Singaporean and four Hong Kong-based intermediaries to help transport licensed Iranian oil to Chinese “teapots” or small private refineries. These intermediaries collectively delivered millions of barrels of Iranian oil from Sepere Energy.
Nuclear Program
In February, President Donald Trump signed an order directing the Treasury to impose “maximum pressure” on Iran to prevent the Islamic regime from acquiring nuclear weapons.
It directed the State Department to “run a robust and continuous campaign” with other agencies that “drift Iran’s oil exports to zero,” highlighting Iran’s exports to China.
The memo also ordered the Attorney General to “investigate, destroy and prosecute networks sponsored by Iranian or Iranian terrorist agents.
