The U.S. State Department announced on Wednesday that it has sanctioned companies and individuals allegedly engaged in trading or transporting Iranian petrochemicals.
The firms targeted include South African-based SPI International Proprietary Limited; Hong Kong-based companies McFly Plastic HK Limited, Saturn Oasis Co. Limited and Sea Charming Shipping Company Limited; and Chinese companies Dalian Golden Sun Import & Export Co. Ltd., Tianyi International (Dalian) Co. Ltd. and Aoxing Ship Management (Shanghai) Ltd.
Additionally, the State Department sanctioned South African company Main Street 1095, as well as the Iranian entity Armed Forces Social Security Investment Company, for allegedly owning or controlling SPI International Proprietary Limited, knowing its sanctionable activities.
Finally, the State Department sanctioned Armed Forces Social Security Investment Company managing director Mohammad Hassan Toulai, SPI International Proprietary Limited director Hossein Tavakkoli and Main Street 1095 director Reza Ebadzadeh Semnani.
The latest round of sanctions exemplifies the Trump administration’s “maximum pressure” campaign against Iran since withdrawing the United States from the 2015 nuclear deal in May 2018, reimposing sanctions lifted under it, along with enacting new financial penalties on the regime.
