The U.S. is considering imposing sanctions against a United Arab Emirates-based businessman, as well as a network of companies suspected of helping export Iran’s oil.
According to the Wall Street Journal, these actions are part of a broader effort to escalate diplomatic pressure on Tehran as U.S. officials push to reach a deal on Iran’s nuclear program.
Namely, the firms and individuals under scrutiny have been using ship-to-ship transfers of oil in waters that lie between Iraq and Iran, while also forging documents to hide the origin of the cargo.
However, the Wall Street Journal notes that within the administration there is not consensus on plans to target these sorts of suspected sanctions-evading operations.
Since 2021, and the stall of the nuclear talks with Iran, the administration has levied two rounds of sanctions against companies it alleges are smuggling Iranian oil.
