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3/2/2023

Treasury Sanctions Companies Involved in Production, Sale, and Shipment of Iranian Petrochemicals and Petroleum | U.…

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
Treasury Sanctions Companies Involved in Production, Sale, and
Shipment of Iranian Petrochemicals and Petroleum
February 9, 2023

WASHINGTON — Today, the U.S. Department of the Treasuryʼs O ice of Foreign Assets
Control (OFAC) sanctioned nine entities across multiple jurisdictions that have played a critical
role in the production, sale, and shipment of hundreds of millions of dollarsʼ worth of Iranian
petrochemicals and petroleum to buyers in Asia. Treasury is targeting six Iran-based
petrochemical manufacturers or their subsidiaries, and three firms in Malaysia and Singapore
involved in facilitating the sale and shipment of petroleum and petrochemicals on behalf of
Triliance Petrochemical Co. Ltd., which OFAC designated on January 23, 2020 for facilitating
the sale of Iranian petroleum products from the National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC).
“Iran increasingly turning to buyers in East Asia to sell its petrochemical and petroleum
products, in violation of U.S. sanctions,” said Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism
and Financial Intelligence Brian E. Nelson. “The United States remains focused on targeting
Tehranʼs sources of illicit revenue, and will continue to enforce its sanctions against those
who wittingly facilitate this trade.”
Todayʼs action was taken pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 13846 and follows OFACʼs
November 17, 2022 designation of 13 companies in the UAE and Hong Kong for facilitating
the sale of Iranian petrochemicals and petroleum products to buyers in East Asia on behalf of
Triliance and sanctioned Iranian petrochemical broker Persian Gulf Petrochemical Industry
Commercial Co. (PGPICC), as well as on behalf of NIOC and its marketing arm, Na iran
Intertrade Company Ltd. (NICO).

IRANIAN PET ROCHEMICAL PRODUCERS
OFAC is designating Iranian petrochemical producer Amir Kabir Petrochemical Company
(AKPC), a major polyethylene producer. Triliance has purchased millions of dollarsʼ worth of
low density polyethylene (LDPE) produced by AKPC for shipment to buyers in the Peopleʼs
Republic of China (PRC). OFAC is also adding Simorgh Petrochemical Company, a fully

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Treasury Sanctions Companies Involved in Production, Sale, and Shipment of Iranian Petrochemicals and Petroleum | U.…

owned subsidiary of AKPC, to the List of Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons
(“SDN List”).
OFAC is designating AKPC pursuant to E.O. 13846 for, on or a er November 5, 2018, having
materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or
goods or services to or in support of, Triliance. OFAC is adding Simorgh Petrochemical
Company to the SDN List for being owned in the aggregate, directly or indirectly, 50 percent
or more by AKPC.
OFAC is also taking action against four subsidiaries of Iranʼs Marun Petrochemical Company,
which OFAC designated on June 16, 2022 for its role in supplying millions of dollarsʼ worth of
petrochemicals to Triliance. Iran-based Laleh Petrochemical Company, Marun Tadbir Tina
Company, Marun Sepehr Ofogh Company, and Marun Supplemental Industries Company,
each of which operate in di erent capacities within the petrochemical and industrial sectors,
are majority- or fully owned by Marun Petrochemical Company.
OFAC is adding Laleh Petrochemical Company, Marun Tadbir Tina Company, Marun Sepehr
Ofogh Company, and Marun Supplemental Industries Company to the SDN List for being
owned in the aggregate, directly or indirectly, 50 percent or more by Marun Petrochemical
Company.

T RILIANCE NET W ORK ENAB LERS
Since late 2021, Singapore-based Asia Fuel PTE. Ltd. (Asia Fuel) has facilitated the shipment
of petroleum products worth millions of dollars to customers in East Asia. Asia Fuel also
arranged to pay storage fees on behalf of Triliance to house petroleum products in a
Malaysia-based floating storage vessel.
Sense Shipping and Trading SDN. BHD. (Sense Shipping) is a Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia-based
front company for Triliance that has facilitated Trilianceʼs shipment of tens of thousands of
metric tons of petrochemicals to foreign customers. Sense Shipping previously operated
under the name Eastchem Shipping SDN. BHD.
Singapore-based Unicious Energy PTE. Ltd. serves an important role in Trilianceʼs network,
coordinating millions of dollars in petroleum-related payments for other companies within the
network and aiding Triliance in its sale of hundreds of millions of dollars of petroleum
products.

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Treasury Sanctions Companies Involved in Production, Sale, and Shipment of Iranian Petrochemicals and Petroleum | U.…

OFAC is designating Asia Fuel PTE. Ltd., Sense Shipping and Trading SDN. BHD., and Unicious
Energy PTE. Ltd., pursuant to E.O. 13846 for, on or a er November 5, 2018, having materially
assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or
services to or in support of, Triliance, a person included on the SDN List whose property and
interests in property are blocked pursuant to section 1(a) of E.O. 13846.

SANCT IONS IMPLICAT IONS
As a result of todayʼs action, all property and interests in property of these targets that are in
the United States or in the possession or control of U.S. persons must be blocked and
reported to OFAC. In addition, any entities that are owned, directly or indirectly, 50 percent or
more by one or more blocked persons are also blocked. OFACʼs regulations generally prohibit
all dealings by U.S. persons or within the United States (including transactions transiting the
United States) that involve any property or interests in property of blocked or designated
persons.
In addition, persons that engage in certain transactions with the individuals and entities
designated today may themselves be exposed to sanctions or subject to an enforcement
action. Furthermore, unless an exception applies, any foreign financial institution that
knowingly facilitates a significant transaction for any of the individuals or entities designated
today could be subject to U.S. sanctions.
The power and integrity of OFAC sanctions derive not only from its ability to designate and
add persons to the SDN List, but also from its willingness to remove persons from the SDN
List consistent with the law. The ultimate goal of sanctions is not to punish, but to bring
about a positive change in behavior. For information concerning the process for seeking
removal from an OFAC list, including the SDN List, please refer to OFACʼs Frequently Asked
Question 897 here. For detailed information on the process to submit a request for removal
from an OFAC sanctions list, please click here.
Click here for identifying information on the entities designated today.
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