US sanctions Iran firms it says are shipping oil to Syria to fund Hamas, Hezbollah

The US says it has placed a network of Russian and Iranian companies on an international blacklist for shipping oil to Syria in violation of US sanctions.

Officials say the network helps fuel the Syrian war effort of President Bashar Assad while providing revenue for Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and the terrorist groups Hamas and Hezbollah.

Placement on the list blocks any US assets and prohibits American entities or citizens from dealing with the companies.

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin says in announcing the names that the nine firms and people being added to the list are “critical actors” in a scheme to support Assad.

Those added to the list include a Syrian national and his Russia-based company along with a subsidiary of the Russian Energy Ministry.

— AP