US puts sanctions on oil fleet related to Iran

The United States Treasury Department has announced new sanctions on Iran, targeting a group of ships and their owners that Washington claims are used to support Iranian oil exports.

News ID: 2002605

In a statement on Friday, the US Department of the Treasury said the sanctions target nine vessels and their respective owners or management firms that have “collectively transported hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of Iranian oil and petroleum products to foreign markets.”

The department alleged that the revenue generated was used to fund “security services” against the recent protests in Iran.

More than a week ago, the Treasury Department imposed sanctions on Ali Larijani, the secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, and a number of military commanders over the protests.

The demonstrations began in late December when shopkeepers protested the high cost of living and fluctuations in foreign currency rates, but later turned violent. Iran said the unrest was funded and supported by foreign actors, namely the United States and Israel.

Iranian authorities said terrorists were provided with weapons and other equipment to carry out acts of terrorism, including the killing of civilians and security forces, the burning of mosques and other religious sites, and the destruction of public and private property.

According to Iran’s Foreign Ministry, a total of 3,117 people were killed during the days-long unrest. Of that number, 2,427 were security forces and civilians, while the remainder were terrorists, the ministry said on Friday./irna