1.5 million barrels Iranian crude taken off the market
Admin l Thursday, April 04, 2019
WASHINGTON – United States has said that the sanctions it imposed on Iran for its ballistic missile program is yielding the desired results, noting that it has cost the Iranian regime as high as $10 billion in revenue.
The United States that made the revelation in a statement by Department of State said since last May, 1.5 million barrels of Iranian crude have been taken off the market, adding that purchases of Iranian crude will soon be at zero. According to the US, starting with the re-imposition of sanctions on November 5, 2018, Iran’s access to revenue from the sale of crude oil was immediately restricted.
“Overall, our sanctions have denied the regime direct access to as much as $10 billion in oil revenue since May 2018.More than 20 countries that were once regular oil customers of Iran have zeroed out their imports. Three jurisdictions that were granted waivers in November are already at zero“, the statement said.
It added that the Trump administration has designated over 970 Iranian entities and individuals in more than 26 rounds of sanctions – more than any other administration in U.S. history.
“Just last week a vast network of front companies based in Iran, the U.A.E., and Turkey was sanctioned for procuring and transferring more than a billion dollars and euros to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.We have designated Evin Prison, where the Ministry of Intelligence and Security (MOIS) and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps maintain permanent wards to hold political prisoners, and subject prisoners to brutal tactics.In response to ongoing censorship activities by the regime, we have designated the IRGC’s Electronic Warfare and Cyber Defense Organization, Iran’s Supreme Council for Cyberspace and the National Cyberspace Center”, the United States said.
According to the department, the US has also sanctioned more than 70 Iran-linked financial institutions and their foreign and domestic subsidiaries.
“SWIFT has disconnected every sanctioned Iranian bank from its system and even disconnected the Central Bank of Iran.More than 100 corporations have exited the Iranian market, taking with them billions of dollars in investment.The Iranian economy is in a tailspin because of the regime’s poor policies, its continued commitment to terrorism, and our targeted pressure. The rial has lost two-thirds of its value, reports indicate Iran is in a recession, and inflation has hit a record 40 percent. Iran’s total trade has declined by nearly 25 percent since March 2018″, the statement added.
The department noted that after a foiled bomb plot in Paris and a thwarted assassination plan in Denmark last year, the European Union in January sanctioned Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence and Security and two of its agents for their roles.
“Countries, including the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Denmark, the Netherlands, Albania, and Serbia, have acted on their own to address the threat of Iranian terrorism, whether by recalling Ambassadors, expelling Iranian diplomats, denying landing rights to Mahan Air, or eliminating visa-free travel.Germany recently announced its decision to deny Mahan Air landing rights”.
The statement added that Panama has issued a Presidential Decree to pull registration and de-flag Iranian vessels following the United States’ exposure of an oil-for-terror network.
“Albania expelled Iran’s Ambassador to Tirana and another Iranian diplomat for involvement in thwarted terrorist plots.The United States, along with the U.K., France, and Germany, continue to hold Iran accountable for defying its international obligations. Our countries expressed strong concern to the UN Secretary General following Iran’s launch of a medium range ballistic missile in December and its attempted satellite launches in January and February.
“These launches and others defy UN Security Council Resolution 2231.The EU Foreign Affairs Council’s conclusions in February underscored its concern regarding Iran’s ballistic missile program, support of terrorism in Europe, human rights conditions in Iran, and the regime’s ongoing role in regional conflicts”, it noted.
Besides, the statement noted that the US has exposed the lethal aid that Iran is sending to militants in Yemen, Bahrain, and Afghanistan; including ballistic missiles, attack UAVs, and explosive boats.
” Representatives of over 70 countries toured the Iran Materiel Display, seeing clear and tangible evidence that Iran is sending weapons to its militant partners, which were used to attack international shipping and civilian infrastructure in the Gulf”, the statement said.
