In line with the US’s so-called maximum pressure on the Islamic Republic, the Treasury Department issued a statement on Thursday local time, declaring that the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned nine entities, which have played a key role in producing, selling and shipping hundreds of millions of dollars of oil and petrochemical products from Iran to purchasers in Asia.
Treasury Undersecretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Brian Nelson said in the statement, "Iran is increasingly turning to buyers in East Asia to sell its petrochemical and petroleum products, in violation of US sanctions."
Nelson went on to say, "The United States remains focused on targeting Tehran’s sources of illicit revenue, and will continue to enforce its sanctions against those who wittingly facilitate this trade."
The newly sanctioned companies consist of Amir Kabir Petrochemical Company (AKPC) and its subsidiary Simorgh Petrochemical Company, and four subsidiaries of previously sanctioned Marun Petrochemical Company.
The Treasury Department also accused Singapore-based Asia Fuel PTE. Ltd. of facilitating the shipment of petroleum products worth millions of dollars to customers in the East Asia region.
The new move targets companies that have been accused of facilitating the trade and delivery of crude oil and petrochemical products on behalf of Triliance Petrochemical Co. Ltd.
According to the US Treasury Department, the Malaysia-based Sense Shipping and Trading SDN. BHD. as well as Singapore-based Unicious Energy PTE. Ltd. have also been hit with the new sanctions.
However, The Washington Free Beacon website reported that influential lobbies in the US are trying to push ahead with efforts to revitalize the 2015 Iran nuclear deal officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).
Iran showed compliance with the JCPOA, but the Trump administration withdrew the internationally recognized agreement in May 2018. Then, the US imposed sanctions on Iran and the European signatories to the agreement did not conduct any tangible act to promote Tehran to continue abiding by the commitments under the deal.
Now, the Islamic Republic emphasizes that the US should show pragmatism and a realistic approach in order to pave the way for reviving the nuclear deal.
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