2024-08-16 03:40:32
The US Treasury Department announced today that it has imposed sanctions on commercial networks serving Yemen’s Houthi rebels and the Hezbollah group, Reuters reported.
The move comes as Washington tries to increase pressure on Tehran and the groups it supports.
In a statement, the ministry said it had sanctioned companies, individuals and vessels believed to be responsible for shipping products from Iran, including oil and liquefied gas, to Yemen and the United Arab Emirates for the benefit of the Houthi financial network. .
According to officials, US revenue from Saeed al-Jamal’s network was used to fund Houthi attacks on merchant ships in the Red Sea and against civilian infrastructure.
Attacks on vessels in the Red Sea by Iran-backed Yemeni Houthi rebels have cut off a vital commercial shipping route and forced vessel owners to take much longer routes that have driven up transport prices and caused congestion at Asian and European ports.
Hezbollah’s shipments of liquefied natural gas through a Hong Kong-based ship manager and operator, as well as several tankers, are also under sanctions.
The US Treasury Department reported that the Hezbollah-controlled Talaki Group used two of the tankers to transport tens of millions of dollars worth of liquefied natural gas from Iran to China, BTA writes.
“Today’s action follows our ongoing commitment to cut off Iran’s primary source of funding for its regional terrorist allies such as the Lebanese (group) Hezbollah and the Houthis,” said acting Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Bradley Smith.
“Our message is clear – those who want to fund the destabilizing actions of these groups will be held accountable,” he added.
The measures imposed by the US today include a ban on transactions with US citizens.
Financial institutions and others who engage in certain transactions with them are also at risk of being affected by sanctions.