U.S. sanctions networks over illegal oil trade aiding IRGC, Hezbollah
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – The U.S. sanctioned on Wednesday entities and ships enabling illegal trade of Iranian oil and gas to Syria and East Asia on behalf of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Qods Force (IRGC-QF) and the Lebanese Hezbollah.
The Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) imposed sanctions on more than twelve entities and vessels for their involvement in transporting Iranian crude oil and liquefied petroleum gas to Syria and East Asia on behalf of IRGC-QF and Hezbollah.
Acting Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Bradley T. Smith said, “Iran continues to rely heavily on the illicit sale of oil and liquid petroleum gas by the IRGC-QF and Lebanese Hizballah to fund its terrorist proxies and destabilizing activities.”
Among those targeted are four ships linked to Syrian shipping tycoon Abdul Jalil Mallah, who was previously sanctioned in 2021, as well as his brother, Luay al-Mallah, who was also sanctioned on the same day.
The treasury’s statement added that the brothers “continued to use their shipping empire to support Iran’s malign activities and those of its proxies.”
In 2007, OFAC designated the IRGC-QF, under Executive Order (E.O.) 13224, as a supporter of terrorism. Additionally, the U.S. Department of State officially labeled Hezbollah as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist group (SDGT) under the same Executive Order in 2001.