US sanctions firms in China and UAE over Iran petrochemical sales
- Donghai International Ship Management, Petrochem South East Limited, Alpha Tech Trading And Petroliance Trading placed on blacklist
- Analysts say new sanctions just before Trump’s exit seem designed to complicate President-elect Biden’s path to renegotiating nuclear deal with Tehran
The United States on Wednesday imposed sanctions on companies based in China and the United Arab Emirates, accusing them of supporting the sale of Iranian petrochemicals as Washington increases pressure on Tehran in the closing days of President Donald Trump’s term.
The US Treasury Department said in a statement it had blacklisted the four entities for facilitating the export of Iranian petrochemical products by Triliance Petrochemical Co., which was hit with sanctions by Washington earlier this year.
Also targeted in Wednesday’s move, which comes amid a slew of sanctions announced by Washington, was Vietnam Gas and Chemicals Transportation Corporation over its connection with significant transactions for the transport of petroleum products from Iran, the Treasury said.
The action comes as the Trump administration has imposed sanctions on a near daily basis over the past several weeks, many targeted at Iran.
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US-Iran tension: Where does China stand?
Analysts have said the sanctions pressuring Tehran seem designed to complicate President-elect Joe Biden’s path to renegotiating a nuclear deal with Iran.