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5/12/2020

United States Increases Sanctions Against The Government Of Iran And Its Proliferation Networks

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
Press Center

United States Increases Sanctions Against The Government Of Iran And Its
Proliferation Networks
7/12/2012

Treasury and State Department Actions Target More Than 50 Entities
Tied to Iran's Procurement, Petroleum, and Shipping Networks
WASHINGTON – Today, the United States is imposing additional sanctions on Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile proliferation networks,
and is also taking additional steps to prevent the evasion of sanctions by publicly identifying a group of Iranian front companies and banks.
These actions are part of the United States government’s dual-track approach of increasing pressure to convince Iran to engage seriously
and address the international community’s concerns about its nuclear program.
“Iran today is under intense, multilateral sanctions pressure, and we will continue to ratchet up the pressure so long as Iran refuses to
address the international community’s well-founded concerns about its nuclear program,” said Treasury Under Secretary for Terrorism and
Financial Intelligence David S. Cohen. “Today’s actions are our next step on that path, taking direct aim at disrupting Iran’s nuclear and
ballistic missile programs as well as its deceptive efforts to use front companies to sell and move its oil.”
Targeting Iran’s Nuclear and Missile Proliferation Activities
Since 2005, the United States has imposed a series of targeted, conduct-based sanctions under Executive Order (E.O.) 13382, “Blocking
Property of Weapons of Mass Destruction Proliferators and Their Supporters,” on persons, firms and financial institutions involved in Iran’s
nuclear and ballistic missile programs. This sustained sanctions effort has both disrupted the progress of Iran’s nuclear and ballistic
missile program and imposed significant pressure on the Iranian government.
Continuing the effort to target Iran’s nuclear and missile proliferation activities, the U.S. Departments of the Treasury and State are today
designating 11 entities and four individuals under E.O. 13382. As described in more detail in the accompanying Fact Sheet, many of the
individuals and entities designated today are part of a network of proliferators headed by Iran’s Ministry of Defense for Armed Forces
Logistics (MODAFL) and its subsidiary, Aerospace Industries Organization (AIO). A number of additional designations are related to Iran’s
national maritime carrier, Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines (IRISL), and Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), both of
which have been the target of a numerous sanctions actions by the United States and our partners around the world.
Preventing the Circumvention of International Sanctions on Iran
The Treasury Department is also acting today to prevent the circumvention of international sanctions on Iran – including sanctions on oil
trade with Iran – by publicly exposing numerous Iranian front companies, ships and banks that are part of the Government of Iran. The
specific entities identified in today’s action are described in the accompanying Fact Sheet.
Treasury is identifying these Government of Iran entities pursuant to E.O. 13599, which blocks all property and interests in property within
U.S. jurisdiction of the Government of Iran and of all Iranian financial institutions, and prohibits U.S. persons or those within U.S.
jurisdiction from having dealings with them. To assist U.S. persons in complying with their obligation to freeze the assets of, and not to
deal with, any such entities, the Treasury Department from time to time identifies entities that are owned or controlled by, or acting for or
on behalf of, the Government of Iran.
Today’s identifications include four front companies for the Naftiran Intertrade Company (NICO) or the National Iranian Oil Company
(NIOC) -- Petro Suisse Intertrade Company SA; Hong Kong Intertrade Company; Noor Energy (Malaysia) Ltd.; and Petro Energy
Intertrade Company. NICO intended to use Petro Energy Intertrade to evade western sanctions. The Treasury Department identified
NICO and NIOC, both of which are centrally involved in the sale of Iranian oil, in 2008 as entities that are owned or controlled by the
Government of Iran.
The Treasury Department is also identifying today the National Iranian Tanker Company (NITC) as a Government of Iran entity and, for the
first time, the NITC fleet and various front companies belonging to NITC. In addition, the Treasury Department is also identifying 20
Iranian financial institutions for inclusion on its List of Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons (SDN List).

https://www.treasury.gov/press-center/press-releases/Pages/tg1634.aspx

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United States Increases Sanctions Against The Government Of Iran And Its Proliferation Networks

These identifications highlight Iran’s attempts to evade sanctions through the use of front companies, as well as its attempts to conceal its
tanker fleet by repainting, reflagging, or disabling GPS devices. They will assist U.S. persons in complying with E.O. 13599, and will also
assist persons and entities around the world in complying with U.S. and international sanctions, including the European Union’s prohibition
on the import of Iranian oil that went into effect on July 1, 2012.
U.S. persons are generally prohibited from engaging in any transactions with individuals or entities blocked pursuant to E.O 13382 or E.O.
13599, and any assets such persons may have under U.S. jurisdiction are blocked. Entry into the United States of aliens designated
pursuant to E.O. 13382 is suspended under Presidential Proclamation 8693, Suspension of Entry of Aliens Subject to U.S. Security
Council Travel Ban and International Emergency Economic Powers Act Sanctions.
For more information on today’s designations, please see the attached fact sheet.

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071212 Fact Sheet Iran Designations.pdf

https://www.treasury.gov/press-center/press-releases/Pages/tg1634.aspx

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