The USA has decided to end the exemptions given to India at Iran’s Chabahar port.
Washington/Tehran: With Donald Trump coming to power in America, the US has intensified the clampdown on Iran. The Trump administration has also started targeting India’s friendship with Iran under its strategy of maximum pressure on Iran.
While the USA has decided to end the exemptions given to India at Iran’s Chabahar port, it has now also imposed sanctions on India’s Marshall Ship Management Company and an individual. The U.S. Treasury Department has accused the Indian company of helping Iran in selling oil to China. The U.S. is concerned that after the conflict with Israel, the Iranian government is now working on developing nuclear bombs. For this reason, the Trump administration wants to confine Iran.
The U.S. Treasury Department announced these new sanctions on Thursday, February 6, targeting an entire international network. The U.S. stated that an Indian company assisted Iran in a multimillion-dollar oil trade with China. Earlier, on February 4, the Trump administration ordered maximum economic pressure against Iran. This latest action against the Indian company and officials is part of that order from Trump. The U.S. aims to reduce Iran’s influence through these pressures.
In an official statement, the US said that this oil was being sent by Iran’s military company and it was banned. The scope of this ban includes many companies and ships from China, India and the UAE. This US statement says that Iran is making billions of dollars by selling oil every year and is carrying out destabilizing activities in the entire region. Iran is aiding Hamas, Hezbollah and the Houthis, who are attacking Israel and the United States. The Iranian military is able to sell this oil with the help of proxy companies that are made in foreign countries.
The United States also stated that the Iranian government is funding its nuclear programme by making money from oil, while also producing missiles and killer drones, which it is supplying to its proxy organizations. A statement from the U.S. mentioned that the Indian company Marshall Ship Management Private Limited has provided crew for several Iranian vessels, including some that are under sanctions.
The crew of this Marshall Ship presented false documents in collaboration with Iran. Indian national Ryan Xavier Aranha is the director of Marshall Ship Management. This company has offices in the Philippines and the UAE. Previously, the Trump administration had ended its waiver regarding the Chabahar port, which could increase difficulties for India.
