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US Sells Petroleum Seized From 4 Iranian Ships, Imposes Petrochemical Sanctions

© AP Photo / Matthew BrownThis Nov. 6, 2013 file photo shows a Whiting Petroleum Co. pump jack pulls crude oil from the Bakken region of the Northern Plains near Bainville, Mont.
This Nov. 6, 2013 file photo shows a Whiting Petroleum Co. pump jack pulls crude oil from the Bakken region of the Northern Plains near Bainville, Mont. - Sputnik International
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WASHINGTON (Sputnik) – The United States has sold all the petroleum aboard four Iranian ships the US Navy captured earlier this year en route to Venezuela and sanctioned companies and individuals involved in Iran's petrochemical sales, Assistant Attorney General for National Security John Demers said on Thursday.
“In August 2020, the district court issued a warrant for arrest in rem and the United States subsequently transferred approximately 1.1 million barrels of refined petroleum from the four vessels. The United States has now sold and delivered that petroleum,” Demers said in a press briefing.

The Treasury Department, meanwhile, imposed sanctions on the individuals and entities responsible for the sale, Demers added.

Demers explained that on July 20, the National Security Division and the US Attorney Office for the District of Columbia filed a complaint in US District Court, which sought forfeiture of the Iranian refined petroleum from four foreign-flagged vessels bound for Venezuela.

The U.S. Treasury Department building at dusk, Thursday, June 6, 2019, in Washington. - Sputnik International
US Slaps New Sanctions on Iran, Targets Ministry of Petroleum and Top Official
The proceeds from the sale of the seized petroleum - more than $40 million - will be provided to the US Victims of State Sponsored Terrorism Fund after the conclusion of the case, Demers added.

The US Department of Treasury said in a statement that its Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) had sanctioned eight entities based in Iran, China and Singapore, for their involvement in the sale and purchase of Iranian petrochemical products.

According to the Treasury, petrochemical sales represent a crucial revenue source for the Iranian government, used to finance its illicit activities throughout the Middle East and Venezuela.

The designations include Iranian petrochemical firms Morvarid Petrochemical (Morvarid) and Arya Sasol Polymer Company, as well as Singapore-based Jiaxiang Energy Holding PTE.

Three entities in Hong Kong - Elfo Energy Holding Limited  Glory Advanced Limited (Glory Advanced), Jane Shang Co. Limited (Jane Shang), and Sibshur Limited (Sibshur) - were also among those targeted in the Treasury's latest sanctions.

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