The US Treasury and the US State Departments have imposed
sanctions on a total of six companies, four based in Hong Kong, one in
Singapore, and one in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in actions that were
announced in separate statements.
The Treasury accused Persian Gulf Petrochemical Industry
Commercial Co. (PGPICC), one of Iran's largest petrochemical brokers, of using
the firms to facilitate the sale of Iranian petroleum and petrochemical
products to East Asia.
The Treasury targeted UAE-based Blue Cactus Heavy Equipment
and Machinery Spare Parts Trading, which it said helped sell millions of
dollars of Iranian-origin petroleum products to Hong Kong-based Triliance
Petrochemical Company, which has previously been sanctioned by the United
States.
It also targeted Hong Kong-based Farwell Canyon HK and
Shekufei International Trading Company for facilitating such sales for onward
shipment to buyers in East Asia.
The Treasury accused PGPICC of using the firms' bank
accounts, along with those of Hong Kong and Malaysia-based PZNFR Trading, to
collect millions of dollars in proceeds.
Separately, the State Department sanctioned Singapore-based
Pioneer Ship Management for allegedly managing a vessel that carried Iranian
petroleum products and Hong Kong-based Golden Warrior Shipping Company, for
alleged transactions related to Iranian oil and petroleum products.
The actions freeze US-based assets and generally bar
Americans from dealing with them. Others that engage in certain transactions
with the targeted firms also risk being sanctioned.
The steps represent the third round of US-Iran related
sanctions against Chinese firms in the last two months.
Since taking office in 2021, US President Joe Biden has been
loath to sanction Chinese entities engaged in oil trade with Iran due to hopes
of securing an agreement to revive the 2015 Iran nuclear deal.
Efforts to resurrect the deal - under which Iran had curbed
its nuclear program in exchange for relief from US and other sanctions - have
so far failed, leading Washington to look for other ways to increase pressure
on Tehran.
"The United States continues to pursue the path of
diplomacy to achieve a mutual return to full implementation of the Joint
Comprehensive Plan of Action," the Treasury's Under Secretary for
Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, Brian Nelson, said in the statement,
referring to the 2015 deal by its formal name.
"Until such time as Iran is ready to return to full
implementation of its commitments, we will continue to enforce sanctions on the
illicit sale of Iranian petroleum and petrochemicals."
Reacting to the new sanctions, Iran's Foreign Ministry
spokesperson Nasser Kanaani said in a statement that Iran will respond
decisively and firmly to the White House's continuation of sanctions.
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