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3/19/2020

Treasury Targets International Network Supporting Iran’s Petrochemical and Petroleum Industries | U.S. Department of the Treasury

Treasury Targets International Network Supporting Iran’s
Petrochemical and Petroleum Industries
January 23, 2020

WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s O ice of Foreign Assets Control
(OFAC) took action against four international petrochemical and petroleum companies that
have collectively transferred the equivalent of hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of exports
from the National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC), an entity instrumental in Iran’s petroleum and
petrochemical industries, which helps to finance Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Qods
Force (IRGC-QF) and its terrorist proxies. Iran’s petroleum and petrochemical industries are
major sources of revenue for the Iranian regime and funds its malign activities throughout the
Middle East. The entities targeted today facilitate Iran’s petrochemical and petroleum exports in
contravention of U.S. economic sanctions.
“Iran’s petrochemical and petroleum sectors are primary sources of funding for the Iranian
regime’s global terrorist activities and enable its persistent use of violence against its own
people,” said Secretary Steven T. Mnuchin.
Today’s action follows on the heels of similar actions that have targeted key sources of funding
for Iranian regional adventurism, including a recent action targeting the Iranian metals sector.
Also, in June 2019, OFAC designated Iran’s largest petrochemical holding group, Persian Gulf
Petrochemical Industries Company (PGPIC), for providing financial support to U.S.-designated
Khatam al-Anbya Construction Headquarters, the engineering conglomerate of the Islamic
Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). In addition to PGPIC, OFAC designated PGPIC’s vast network
of 39 subsidiary petrochemical companies and foreign-based sales agents.
Today’s action targets Triliance Petrochemical Co. Ltd. (Triliance), a Hong Kong-based broker
with branches in Iran, United Arab Emirates, China, and Germany.
In 2019, Triliance ordered the transfer of the equivalent of millions of dollars to NIOC as
payment for Iranian petrochemicals, crude oil, and petroleum products shipped to the United
Arab Emirates and China a er the expiration of any applicable significant reduction exceptions.
In facilitating these shipments, Triliance worked to conceal the Iranian origin of these products.
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Treasury Targets International Network Supporting Iran’s Petrochemical and Petroleum Industries | U.S. Department of the Treasury

Triliance has also facilitated the sale of millions of dollars’ worth of petroleum products
involving Na iran Intertrade Company, a subsidiary of NIOC, to companies in China.
Additionally, Triliance Kish Petrochemical Company, which is the Iran-based branch of Triliance,
recently changed its name and operates as Tiba Parsian Kish Petrochemical.
Similarly, in 2019, Hong Kong-based Sage Energy HK Limited (Sage Energy) and Shanghaibased Peakview Industry Co. Limited (Peakview) each ordered the transfer of the equivalent of
millions of dollars to NIOC for exports a er the expiration of any applicable significant reduction
exceptions.
In 2019, Dubai-based Beneathco DMCC also ordered the transfer of the equivalent of several
million dollars to NIOC. In late 2018, Beneathco DMCC o ered to assist NIOC in hiding the origin
of Iranian products destined for the United Arab Emirates.
Triliance, Sage Energy, Peakview, and Beneathco DMCC are all designated 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 in support of, NIOC, a person
included on the List of Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons whose property and
interests in property are blocked pursuant to E.O. 13599.
Concurrently with the U.S. Department of Treasury’s designations, the U.S. Department of State
designated several companies and senior executives pursuant to E.O. 13846 in connection with
significant transactions for the transport of petrochemical products from Iran, on or a er
November 5, 2018.
Sanctions Implications
All property and interests in property of these persons designated today subject to U.S.
jurisdiction are blocked, and U.S persons are generally prohibited from engaging in transactions
with them. In addition, foreign financial institutions that knowingly facilitate significant
transactions for, or persons that provide material or certain other support to, the persons
designated today risk exposure to sanctions that could sever their access to the U.S. financial
system or block their property and interests in property under U.S. jurisdiction.
For identifying information on the individuals and entities listed today.

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Treasury Targets International Network Supporting Iran’s Petrochemical and Petroleum Industries | U.S. Department of the Treasury

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