US steps up pressure on allies bypassing sanctions for Russia and Iran
Photo: Head of the Office of the President Andriy Yermak (Vitalii Nosach, RBC-Ukraine)
The US Department of the Treasury imposed full blocking sanctions against a network of companies and sea vessels that were engaged in smuggling Iranian oil disguised as Iraqi, according to the head of the Office of the President, Andriy Yermak.
According to him, behind the schemes of the companies and vessels stands an Iraqi-Chinese businessman who resides in the UAE.
"This network generates hundreds of millions of dollars every year and directly works in the interests of the state sponsor of terrorism. Now, 7 companies and 9 tankers that participated in the scheme are under US sanctions," Yermak wrote.
The head of the Office of the President states that the new restrictions are a clear signal — any attempts to help Iran or Russia in circumventing sanctions are doomed.
"Every dollar received from the shadow fleet or smuggling will be blocked," the official summed up and added that a number of proposals of the sanctions group are being taken into account when imposing restrictions.
New sanctions against the Russian Federation and Iran
As is known, the European Union, for its part, is preparing the 19th package of sanctions against Russia since the beginning of the full-scale war against Ukraine.
The new restrictions, expected in September, are aimed at the shadow fleet and companies that help Moscow circumvent restrictions. In particular, it is also about Iranian companies.
It is expected that the most painful for the Russian Federation may be secondary sanctions against companies or countries that do business with Russia.
It is also important to mention the sanctions from the US side. According to the latest statement of the head of the US Treasury, Scott Bessent, Washington will consider new restrictions against the Russian Federation against the background of massive attacks on Ukraine.
