WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States on Wednesday imposed sanctions on a vast network of companies, ships and individuals allegedly run by Iran's Revolutionary Guards and supplied Syria with oil worth tens of millions of dollars in violation of US sanctions.
The sanctions on 16 entities, 10 people and 11 ships coincided with Iran's announcement that it would reduce its obligations under the nuclear deal unless Washington eased its pressure.
The US Treasury Department confirmed that the network covered by the sanctions "is led by the Quds Force and its terrorist ally Hezbollah" Lebanese, pointing out that the parties benefit "financially" from its operations.
Among the targeted individuals is a former Iranian oil minister and his son, the Treasury said in a statement. The target companies include an Indian company that owns a stake in Iranian tanker Adrian Daraya, which has been patrolling the Mediterranean since Gibraltar authorities released them in July.
"Iran continues its provocations to destabilize the region and the world," Treasury Secretary Stephen Mnuchin said, adding that the new sanctions "clearly show that those who buy Iranian oil directly support Iran's terrorist arm, the Quds Force of the Revolutionary Guards."
The US special envoy to Iran said Tehran was using an oil transport network to support terrorist activities, adding that the Iranian Revolutionary Guards had used an oil transport network for the benefit of the Syrian regime, Hezbollah and others.
Brian Hawke told a news conference in Washington that more sanctions would be imposed on Iran, but noted in a related context that US President Donald Trump has clearly announced his readiness to meet Iranian leaders.