U.S. sanctions target Syrian Qatirji Company for financing terrorism
DAMASCUS, Syria (North Press) – The United States announced on Thursday new sanctions against 26 individuals, companies, and a ship allegedly linked to the Syrian al-Qatirji Company.
The U.S. Department of the Treasury accused the al-Qatirji Company of generating substantial financial revenues for Yemen’s Ansar Allah movement (also known as the Houthis) and Iran’s Quds Force, the external operations arm of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
According to the Treasury, the company facilitated these transactions by selling Iranian oil to Syria and China.
“Iran is increasingly relying on key business partners like the Al-Qatirji Company to fund its destabilizing activities and web of terrorist proxies across the region,” said Acting Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Bradley T. Smith.
He added that “Treasury will continue to take all available measures to restrict the Iranian regime’s ability to profit from the illicit schemes that enable its dangerous regional agenda.”
The al-Qatirji Company is said to have earned millions from Iranian oil exports, allowing the Quds Force to funnel hundreds of millions of dollars into its operations. The funds were reportedly laundered through cities such as Istanbul and Beirut.
The al-Qatirji Company plays a pivotal role in the Syrian economy, particularly in the fuel, arms, and ammunition sectors, closely tied to the Syrian government. It has recently been highlighted for facilitating the export of millions of barrels of Iranian oil to Syria and East Asia.