Latest news with #IRGC-QF
Yahoo
16-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
U.S. sanctions Chinese refinery importing Iranian oil
April 16 (UPI) -- The U.S Treasury Department on Wednesday announced sanctions on a Chinese refinery for allegedly importing more than a billion dollars in Iranian oil. The Treasury sanctioned Handong Shengxing Chemical Company, which it said is a front for Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Qods Force. "Any refinery, company, or broker that chooses to purchase Iranian oil or facilitate Iran's oil trade places itself at serious risk," said Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent in a statement. "The United States is committed to disrupting all actors providing support to Iran's oil supply chain, which the regime uses to support its terrorist proxies and partners." Also sanctioned were several companies and vessels Treasury said are responsible for facilitating Iranian oil shipments to China as part of Iran's "shadow fleet." The ships Nyantara, and Reston were sanctioned for allegedly transporting Iranian petroleum. Other alleged "shadow fleet" vessels sanctioned include the Egret, the Bestla and the Rani. They have shipped billions of dollars worth of Iranian oil, according to the Treasury Department. Companies alleged to operate those ships were also sanctioned. They include Panama-based Oceanic Orbit; Malaysia-based Pro Mission SDN BHD, Marshall Islands-based Bestla Company Limited; Hong-Kong-based Dexiang Shipping Co.; Panama-based Civic Capital Shipping; and Starboard Shipping Inc. According to the Treasury Department between March 2020 and January 2023, Shandong Shengxing sent over $800 million in wire transfers to China Oil and Petroleum Company. Treasury alleges that China Oil is actually a front company for the IRGC-QF that has "laundered billions through the U.S. financial system in support of the IRGC-QF, $108 million of which was seized by the Justice Department." In March, the Treasury Department sanctioned Shandong Shouguang Luqing Petrochemical Co. Ltd., another alleged Chinese 'teapot" refinery for importing Iranian oil. The company's legal representative and chief executive officer Wang Xueqing was also sanctioned.
Shafaq News
02-04-2025
- Business
- Shafaq News
US Sanctions Houthi financial network over Russian arms
Shafaq News/ The US Treasury Department on Wednesday imposed sanctions on a network of Houthi financial facilitators and procurement operatives accused of securing weapons, sensitive goods, and stolen Ukrainian grain from Russia for shipment to Yemen. The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) said the network operates under the direction of Sa'id al-Jamal, a senior Houthi financial official linked to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Qods Force (IRGC-QF). The sanctions also targeted eight digital asset wallets used to move funds supporting Houthi operations. 'The Houthis remain reliant on Sa'id al-Jamal and his network to procure critical goods to supply the group's terrorist war machine,' Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said. 'Today's action underscores our commitment to degrading the Houthis' ability to threaten the region through their destabilizing activities.' The US has accused the Houthis of launching missile and drone attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea, damaging vessels, killing civilians, and disrupting global trade. Washington says Iran's support enables these attacks. The sanctions fall under Executive Order 13224, which designates individuals and entities linked to terrorism. The US State Department officially labeled the Houthis as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) group on February 16, 2024. Sa'id al-Jamal was sanctioned in 2021 for his support of the IRGC-QF. Key Individuals and Entities Sanctioned Among those designated are Afghan businessmen Hushang and Sohrab Ghairat, who allegedly helped al-Jamal secure weapons and coordinate Houthi trade in Russia. 'In summer and fall 2024, Hushang and Sohrab, at Sa'id al-Jamal's direction, orchestrated at least two shipments of stolen Ukrainian grain from Crimea to Yemen on board the Russia-flagged AM THESEUS (IMO: 9720263), also known as the ZAFAR.' Hong Kong-based AM Asia M6 Ltd, which owns and operates AM THESEUS, was also sanctioned, along with two Russian nationals, Vyacheslav Vladimirovich Vidanov and Yuri Vladimirovich Belyakov, who captained the ship during its voyages. OFAC also targeted three Russia-based firms—LLC Sky Frame, LLC Edison, and LLC Kolibri Group—linked to Sohrab Ghairat. The companies were sanctioned for being owned or controlled by him. Money Laundering and Sanctions Evasion The Treasury Department also sanctioned Hassan Jafari, 'a Turkiye-based Iranian money launderer,' for allegedly handling multi-million-dollar transactions for al-Jamal's network. Jafari is accused of enabling Houthi-linked sanctions evasion and financing shipments supporting the group.
