WASHINGTON — The United States on Monday said it helped sell tens of millions of dollars of Iranian oil and petrochemicals to East Asia amid attempts to pressure Tehran to curb its nuclear program, China and other countries. imposed sanctions on the company.
In a separate statement, the U.S. Treasury Department and the U.S. State Department have announced four companies based in Hong Kong, one based in Singapore and one based in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). A total of 6 companies were sanctioned.
The Ministry of Finance announced that Persian Gulf Petrochemical Industry Commercial Co. (PGPICC), one of Iran’s largest petrochemical brokers, was using the company to facilitate the sale of Iranian petroleum and petrochemical products to East Asia. accused of being
The Ministry of Finance targeted Blue Cactus Heavy Equipment and Machinery Spare Parts Trading LLC, based in the United Arab Emirates. It said it helped sell millions of dollars of Iranian-origin petroleum products to Hong Kong-based Triliance Petrochemical Co. Ltd. America.
It also targeted Hong Kong-based Farwell Canyon HK Limited and Shekfei International Trading Company Limited to facilitate shipments to East Asian buyers.
The Treasury Department accused PPGPICC of using the company’s bank accounts, along with those of Hong Kong and Malaysia-based PZNFR Trading Limited, to collect millions of dollars in revenue.
Separately, the State Department has sanctioned Singapore-based Pioneer Ship Management PTE LTD for controlling a vessel carrying Iranian petroleum products, and Hong Kong-based Golden Warrior Shipping Co. Ltd. It imposed sanctions on alleged transactions involving Iranian oil and petroleum products.
The measure freezes US-based assets and generally prohibits the handling of assets by US persons. Other companies that engage in specific transactions with targeted companies are also at risk of sanctions.
The move represents the third round of Iran-related sanctions the United States has imposed on Chinese companies in the past two months.
Since taking office in 2021, US President Joe Biden has imposed sanctions on Chinese entities engaged in oil trade with Iran in hopes of securing a deal to revive the 2015 Iran nuclear deal. is reluctant to impose
Efforts to revive a pact that had stifled Iran’s nuclear program in exchange for relief from U.S. and other sanctions have so far failed, and Washington seeks other ways to increase pressure on Tehran. It became so.
“The United States continues to pursue a diplomatic path to achieve mutual return to full implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Action Plan,” said Brian Nelson, the Treasury’s undersecretary for terrorism and financial intelligence, in a statement. and traded under its official name in 2015.
“We will continue to enforce sanctions against the illegal sale of Iranian oil and petrochemicals until Iran is ready to fully implement its commitments,” he said.
In the wake of the new sanctions, Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman Nasser Kanani said in a statement that Iran would respond “resolutely and resolutely” to continued sanctions by the White House.
Daphne Psaledakis and Arshad Mohammed
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