U.S. hits Iran’s 'shadow fleet' with new sanctions
The United States administration announced on Wednesday that it will impose new sanctions on 35 entities and ships connected to Iran's "shadow fleet" involved in the illegal export of oil.
As reported by Reuters on Wednesday, U.S. authorities have imposed new sanctions on 35 entities and ships of Iran's "shadow fleet."
"Iran continues to allocate revenues from oil trading to the development of its nuclear program, the proliferation of ballistic missile technologies and unmanned aerial vehicles, and support for regional terrorist proxies, risking further destabilization of the region," stated Bradley Smith, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence.
The new sanctions are being imposed a few weeks before the inauguration of President Donald Trump. The Joe Biden administration has long been criticized by Republicans and Iranian opposition groups for insufficient enforcement of oil sanctions against the Islamic Republic of Iran. The Polish Press Agency reminds us that during Donald Trump's presidency, pressure on Tehran reduced oil exports to 48,000,000 litres per day. However, in August of last year, Iranian oil exports rose to over 347,000,000 litres per day.
Since then, exports have systematically decreased, mainly due to reduced purchases by Iran's main client, China. In September, exports amounted to 285,000,000 litres per day, in October they fell to 238,000,000 litres per day, and in November to 207,000,000 litres per day.
According to Reuters, citing information from Western intelligence, Iran and allied Iraqi militias, who also conduct illegal oil exports, earn between one billion to three billion dollars annually from illegal fuel trading.
