US targets Iranian financial network in Turkey and Lebanon
US Treasury Department affirms that Iran has intermediary front companies that finance proxies across region, including Hamas, according to Al Jazeera.
On January 31, the US imposed sanctions on three entities and one individual based in Turkey and Lebanon for “critical financial support” to a financial network used by Iran’s Quds Force(IRGC-QF) and Hezbollah, reported Reuters.
“These entities have generated hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of revenue from selling Iranian commodities, including to the Syrian government,” the US, Treasury Department said in a statement.
“These commodity sales provide a key source of funding for the IRGC-QF and Hezbollah’s continued terrorist activities and support to other terrorist organizations throughout the region,” it added.
“The Treasury Department said it had imposed sanctions on Turkey-based Mira Ihracat Ithalat Petrol, which purchases, transports, and sells Iranian commodities on the global market, and its chief executive and owner Ibrahim Talal al-Uwayr, who is also known under the alias Ibrahim Agaoglu”, wrote Reuters.
In addition, it attacked two Lebanon-based entities, Yara Offshore SAL, a company affiliated with Hezbollah helped large sales of Iranian commodities to Syria, and Hydro Company for Drilling Equipment Rental, which is involved in financing the IRGC-QF by purchasing of Iranian goods worth hundreds of millions of dollars to Syria.
The sanctions caused the block on all property of those targeted in the United States or that fall under their control.
Reuters/ Al Jazeera
