Biden’s administration fuels Tehran’s terror proxies with $90 billion from illicit Iranian oil sales
Illicit Iranian Oil Sales Under Biden Administration Reach $90 Billion, Fueling Regional Attacks
Under the Biden administration, illicit Iranian oil sales have skyrocketed to a staggering $90 billion. These funds are being used to support Tehran’s terror proxies, who are launching a wave of unprecedented attacks on Israel, American forces, and Western shipping vessels.
Despite sanctions on Iran’s oil exports, Tehran’s sales to China, its top importer, have consistently exceeded 1 million barrels per day in recent months. This signals the Biden administration’s softline approach towards enforcing sanctions on the regime’s oil trade.
“Iran has managed to sell $90 billion worth of U.S.-sanctioned oil, setting new export records in the process,” according to the latest figures published by United Against a Nuclear Iran (UANI), a watchdog group monitoring Tehran’s illicit oil trade. “Ongoing hesitance to enforce oil sanctions on Iran has proven to be a defining characteristic of the Biden Administration’s foreign policy.”
Tehran’s oil exports continue to soar as its terror proxies, including Houthi rebels in Yemen and Iraq-based militant groups, disrupt international shipping lanes and launch attacks on Western ships. In response, the United States and its allies have conducted retaliatory strikes. Meanwhile, Iran’s fleet of illegal oil tankers has been delivering heavily sanctioned crude to China, Syria, Venezuela, and other nations.
“While global supply routes have been seriously affected by the Houthi attacks, Iran’s oil trade, especially with its top importer China, has continued unabated,” reported UANI in early February, shortly after a Houthi-orchestrated attack killed three American service members. ”For January 2024, Iranian exports to China hit 1 million barrels per day. The revenue from these sales is fundamental not only for the regime’s survival but also as a critical source of funds disbursed to its terror proxies, including the Houthi movement in Yemen.”
In February, exports to China surged even higher, reaching 1,462,257 barrels per day, an increase of over 300,000 barrels from January, according to UANI’s latest figures.
These sales have provided Tehran with an estimated $66 million in revenue for February alone, serving as a vital financial lifeline. UANI states that this money fuels Iran’s global terrorism enterprise, which has intensified following the Islamic Republic’s funding and direction of Hamas’s terror strike on Israel.
Accompanying the rise in exports is a significant expansion of Iran’s fleet of oil tankers, known as the “ghost armada.” These vessels go to great lengths to evade international detection.
In 2020, around 70 ships were suspected of transferring Iranian crude products worldwide. However, since the Biden administration took office and reversed the “maximum pressure” campaign on Tehran, the fleet has grown to at least 395, according to UANI.
“This suspected ghost armada, distinct from but complementing Iran’s own NITC tanker fleet, has skirted U.S. sanctions and exploited regulatory loopholes to ship millions of barrels of Iranian oil,” reported UANI last week, providing a list of suspected Iran-linked tankers.
Claire Jungman, UANI’s chief of staff, emphasizes that the expansion of Iran’s oil fleet highlights the collective failure to enforce the rules that bind us. Urgent action is needed to crack down on Iran’s illicit oil trade and reinforce the sanctions framework.
Concerns about the United States’ lax enforcement of sanctions have grown as the Biden administration targets Russia’s energy trade as punishment for its ongoing war in Ukraine.
Last month, the Treasury Department published a detailed assessment of U.S. sanctions on Russia’s oil and energy trade, showcasing efforts to enforce economic penalties on Moscow. However, the same level of attention has not been given to Iran, leading groups like UANI to speculate that oil sanctions on Tehran remain a low priority.
“The administration has not published a correspondingly detailed report with respect to Iranian oil exports—despite the equally vital role oil sales play in funding Iran’s malign activities: sponsorship of terrorism, development of WMDs, and domestic repression. There is a conspicuous absence of robust pronouncements and clear-eyed reasoning with respect to Tehran and its oil,” the group said.
“This is a regrettable data point that clearly inhibits the publication of administration reports on Iranian oil, in contrast to February’s report on Russia,” UANI added.
How has the lack of enforcement and strong response from the Biden administration towards Iran’s illicit activities affected regional allies and international watchdog groups?
Hips that were suspected of engaging in illicit oil trade with Iran turned off their transponders to avoid being tracked. This tactic has allowed Iran to continue its illegal oil sales without being easily detected.
The Biden administration’s lack of enforcement and strong response to Iran’s illicit activities has raised concerns among regional allies and international watchdog groups. It sends a message that the United States is not committed to curbing Iran’s destabilizing behavior and supporting its terror proxies.
Furthermore, the surge in Iranian oil sales under the Biden administration has coincided with an increase in attacks on Israel, American forces, and Western shipping vessels. The funds obtained from these sales are directly contributing to Tehran’s ability to finance and arm its terrorist allies.
These attacks pose a serious threat to regional security and stability. Iran’s support for Houthi rebels in Yemen has enabled them to launch attacks on Saudi Arabian oil facilities, disrupting global oil markets. Additionally, militant groups in Iraq, funded and directed by Iran, have targeted American forces, leading to casualties and escalating tensions in the region.
The Biden administration must take decisive action to address this issue and hold Iran accountable for its illicit activities. Enforcing sanctions on Iranian oil sales and imposing stricter penalties on countries and entities that engage in this trade is crucial.
Additionally, the international community must come together to condemn Iran’s support for terror proxies and its destabilizing actions in the region. Collaboration and coordination among nations can help prevent further escalation of conflicts and protect global shipping routes.
It is essential to minimize Iran’s ability to finance its terrorism enterprise by cutting off its revenue streams, particularly from illicit oil sales. This will not only help promote regional stability but also send a strong message to Iran that its actions have consequences.
The United States, as a global leader, has a responsibility to address this issue and protect the interests of its allies. It is imperative that the Biden administration reevaluate its approach to Iran’s illicit oil trade and take decisive measures to disrupt this dangerous cycle of funding terrorism.
By doing so, the international community can work towards dismantling Iran’s terror network and creating a safer and more secure world for all.
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