US Sanctions Ships, Firms Smuggling Iran's Oil Through Iraq

(MENAFN- Kuwait News Agency (KUNA)) WASHINGTON, Sept 2 (KUNA) -- The United States announced on Tuesday imposing sanctions on a network of vessels and companies involved in transferring Iran's oil sanctioned by the US disguised as "Iraqi oil".
The US is acting decisively to stem the flow of revenues to the Iranian regime for its destructive and destabilizing conduct in Iraq, the Middle East, and around the world, Principal Deputy Spokesperson for the Department of State Tommy Pigott said in a statement.
Among those sanctioned today are a network of companies and vessels led by businessman Waleed al-Samarra'i (al-Samarra'i), a dual citizen of Iraq and Saint Kitts and Nevis, for smuggling Iranian oil disguised as Iraqi oil, it added.
The United States will continue to pursue measures implementing National Security Presidential Memorandum 2, which directs the imposition of maximum pressure on the Iranian regime to deny it access to revenues that fund its destabilizing activities.
"We will not hesitate to utilize all available tools at our disposal to counter those who enable Iran's illicit oil trade," he noted
Meanwhile, Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent said "Iraq cannot become a safe haven for terrorists, which is why the United States is working to counter Iran's influence in the country."
"By targeting Iran's oil revenue stream, Treasury will further degrade the regime's ability to carry out attacks against the United States and its allies.
"We remain committed to an oil supply free from Iran and will continue our efforts to disrupt the ongoing attempts by Tehran to evade U.S. sanctions." (end)
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