Predictably, a completely unnecessary “humanitarian channel” created not out of crisis but out of a combination of naïveté, Euro accommodation & PR, has given the Islamic Republic cover to deflect from its diversion of humanitarian goods & now dream up ways to evade sanctions. /1
It won’t work. Those who advocated its creation will quickly have egg on their faces with articles like these. A financial sector sanctions designation under the new sector-based EO should do the trick to stop these schemers in their tracks. The mullahs can keep on dreaming.
US sanctions have always exempted humanitarian trade. And there is no shred of evidence that US sanctions were creating any humanitarian crisis, just one off stories pitched by the regime for propaganda. Undoubtedly, the regime continues to divert goods from the people today. END
To clarify for the echo chamber: by pushing out stories like these, you are showing your hands to those inside the admin who pushed this channel in good faith and now may feel exploited. Will make Treasury’s posture on due diligence even tougher.
