US Imposes Sanctions on Entities Shipping Iranian Oil to Combat Terrorism

The U.S. Department of Treasury recently imposed sanctions on several entities and vessels for their involvement in shipping Iranian crude oil and liquid petroleum gas to Syria and East Asia on behalf of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards and Hezbollah. Among those targeted were four ships linked to Syrian shipping tycoon Abdul Jalil Mallah and his brother, Luay al-Mallah, who were previously sanctioned by the U.S. in 2021. The Treasury Department stated that the Mallah brothers have been using their shipping business to support Iran’s malign activities and those of its proxies.

According to the Treasury Department, Iran heavily relies on the illicit sale of oil and liquid petroleum gas by the Revolutionary Guards and Lebanese Hezbollah to fund terrorist proxies and destabilizing activities. Bradley T. Smith, the acting under secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, emphasized the ongoing threat posed by Iran’s financial support for terrorist groups. The sanctions are part of the U.S. government’s efforts to disrupt these illicit activities and prevent further funding of terrorism.

The statement from the Treasury Department highlighted the ongoing efforts to combat Iran’s support for terrorist activities through the sale of oil and gas. The sanctions target specific entities and vessels involved in these illicit activities, aiming to disrupt the flow of funds to terrorist groups. By imposing sanctions on individuals like Luay al-Mallah and entities associated with Abdul Jalil Mallah’s shipping fleet, the U.S. government is sending a clear message that it will not tolerate support for Iran’s malign activities and its proxies.

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