LONDON: The US Treasury department has slapped sanctions on the boss of an alleged Iranian front company linked to arms smuggling to Yemen.
Dual Iranian and Iraqi national Amir Dianat, is alleged to be a longtime associate of senior officials of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Qods Force (IRGC-QF).
US authorities also designated his company Taif Mining Services LLC.
At the same time, the US Attorney’s Office filed criminal charges against Dianat and one of his business associates for “violations of sanctions and money laundering laws.”
It also filed a related civil forfeiture action alleging that approximately $12 million is subject to forfeiture as funds involved in these crimes and as assets of a foreign terrorist organization.
“The Iranian regime and its supporters continue to prioritize the funding of international terrorist organizations over the health and well-being of the Iranian people,” said Treasury Secretary Steven T. Mnuchin.
Amir Dianat is said to be an associate of senior members of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard. (File pohoto)
“The United States remains committed to working with financial institutions, non-profit organizations, and international partners to facilitate humanitarian trade and assistance to the Iranian people.”
It is the latest action taken by US authorities against individuals and companies with alleged links to Iranian front companies involved in arms smuggling and money laundering.
In December the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control designated an Iranian shipping network involved in smuggling lethal aid from Iran to Yemen and more recently took action against 20 Iran- and Iraq-based front companies, senior officials, and business associates that alleged to be involved in transferring lethal aid to Iranian-backed terrorist militias in Iraq.
The US Treasury department said that Dianat has supported smuggling operations for several years, including efforts aimed at the shipment of weapons including missiles.
It claims the Iranian regime relied on Dianat to secure entry for vessels carrying arms shipments and that he has been directly involved in efforts to smuggle shipments from Iran to Yemen.
It is also alleged that he leveraged Taif Mining Services LLC, a company under his control, to procure an oil tanker.
