New US Sanctions Against Iran's Oil Transfer Network to China Announced

On Thursday, February 7, the United States announced financial sanctions against an international network accused of transferring Iranian oil to China, marking the first sanctioning action by the new Donald Trump administration. The US Treasury Department stated that this network has transferred millions of barrels of Iranian crude oil worth hundreds of millions of dollars to China, with the proceeds being used to finance the armed forces of the Islamic Republic. Tammy Bruce, a spokesperson for the Treasury Department, announced that these sanctions include Sepehr Energy Company, which acts as a cover for financing the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Iran, as well as the secret fleet and transportation management companies that have assisted in transferring Iranian oil. She added that the United States will continue efforts to cut off financial resources for Iran's armed forces and groups like Hamas and Hezbollah, using all available tools to hold Iran accountable for its destabilizing activities and pursuit of nuclear weapons. In response, a spokesperson for the Iranian Foreign Ministry on Friday, February 8, described the new US action as 'completely unjustified and contrary to international rules and regulations,' accusing the US of obstructing Iran's 'legitimate trade' with the world. According to the Treasury Department's statement published on its website on Thursday, several individuals and companies involved in the smuggling of Iranian oil and the transfer of its revenues to the military of the Islamic Republic were added to the blacklist. The new sanctions list includes four Iranian citizens (Farbad Mohseni Ahari, Jamshid Esfahani, Farshad Ghazi, and Mohad Ali Riazi), along with two citizens from India and the UAE. Additionally, nine Iranian and foreign companies, including the shell company 'Sepehr Energy' and its subsidiaries, as well as three oil tankers flagged in Panama and Hong Kong, were added to the US blacklist. The Sepehr Energy Company states on its website that it began operations on April 25, 2010, with a last recorded capital of 9998 billion rials. According to this site, the senior managers and main planners of Sepehr Energy are 'a group of founders and developers of Iran's petrochemical industries,' and their new plan focuses on implementing methanol projects in Sabalan, Siraf, Dena, and urea and ammonia in Lavan. Donald Trump, the new President of the United States, signed an order on February 5 to revive the so-called 'maximum pressure' policy against Iran, aiming to reduce Iranian oil exports to 'zero.' Targeting the oil smuggling network and financing Iran's military comes as the budget law for the next year under the government of Masoud Pezeshkian considers a daily oil export of 1.8 million barrels, one-third of which will be directly delivered to the military to 'strengthen defense capabilities.' During the signing of the order to revive the 'maximum pressure' policy against the Islamic Republic, Trump stated that Iran should not acquire nuclear weapons. However, hours after announcing this decision at a joint press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, he expressed his willingness to reach an agreement with Iran. The US President stated, 'I say these words to Iran, which is listening carefully. I really hope we can reach a good agreement, one that allows you to continue your life. You will succeed.' Amid repeated warnings from the International Atomic Energy Agency about the Islamic Republic's lack of cooperation in clarifying its nuclear program, the President of Iran claimed that verifying the Islamic Republic's nuclear program 'is not a problem.' Masoud Pezeshkian stated on Thursday, February 7, 'We are not seeking nuclear weapons.' This comes as some Iranian officials, who have always emphasized the civilian and peaceful nature of their nuclear program, have recently mentioned the possibility of a 'change in military and nuclear doctrine.' Among them, Kamal Kharrazi, a senior advisor to Ali Khamenei and head of the Strategic Council on Foreign Relations of Iran, referred to this issue on November 2 and previously on May 9. Nevertheless, Pezeshkian claimed that in the doctrine of the Islamic Republic of Iran, 'the massacre of innocent people is absolutely unacceptable.' He said verifying this matter is not difficult: 'Whenever they have wanted, they have come and checked. They can come and check a hundred more times. When we have no such intention, they should not say every day that Iran is pursuing this goal.' His statements come as the International Atomic Energy Agency has been unable for several years to compel Iran to explain the origin of uranium discovered at several undeclared sites in the Islamic Republic, and on the other hand, has warned about Iran's high-enriched uranium reserves, stating that 'it is sufficient for the production of several nuclear bombs.' Iran claims that its 60% enrichment, close to the concentration needed for nuclear bomb production, is due to the US withdrawal from the JCPOA and the imposition of heavy sanctions against the Islamic Republic. Pezeshkian's statements were made a day after an unnamed senior Iranian official told Reuters that the Islamic Republic is ready to give the United States 'an opportunity to resolve differences.'