The US has struck a strategic blow against a Syrian conglomerate accused of financing Iran’s Revolutionary Guard and Houthi rebels in Yemen. With sanctions targeting companies, individuals and vessels, the move promises to disrupt oil routes and heighten tensions in the Middle East. The impact could redefine the region’s geopolitical game.
A major diplomatic and economic move has put the Middle East and the international community on alert this Thursday (14).
The United States has announced a series of economic sanctions against companies, individuals and vessels linked to a powerful Syrian conglomerate.
The measure, according to the US Treasury Department, aims to dismantle a financing network that involves everyone from the Iranian Revolutionary Guard to the Houthi rebels operating in Yemen.
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The sanctions add further tension to a region already marked by geopolitical conflicts and diverse interests. But what is behind these new US measures, and how do they affect regional and global players?
The US Treasury Operation
At the heart of sanctions is the Syrian company Al-Qatirji, accused by the US of serving as a key player in financing groups considered destabilizing.
According to the Treasury statement, the company generated hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue for the Quds Force, a special unit of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, and for the Houthis, through the marketing of Iranian oil.
The Treasury highlighted that oil was sold both to Syria as for China, in operations that circumvented international restrictions.
Treasury Department official Bradley Smith said Iran has increasingly dependent on partners like Al-Qatirji to enable its “destabilizing activities” and expand its network of influence in the region.
Thursday's action targeted 26 entities, including companies, individuals and vessels directly linked to Al-Qatirji.
It is worth remembering that the company was already in the West's sights, previously sanctioned for facilitating fuel transactions between the Syrian regime and the Islamic State, in a scheme that involved opposing actors on the international stage.
Quds Force: the armed wing of Iranian diplomacy
A Quds Force, linked to the Revolutionary Guard of Iran, is known for being the country's front line in external military operations.
Overseeing groups like Hezbollah, Hamas and the Houthis themselves, the group is accused by several countries of fueling conflicts in the Middle East through financial, military and strategic support.
In the specific case of the recent sanctions, the focus is on the actions of the Houthis in Yemen. This group, which controls part of Yemeni territory, has been the protagonist of a devastating civil war against forces aligned with the internationally recognized government, supported by Saudi Arabia.
The Quds Force reportedly used Al-Qatirji to provide financial and operational support to the Houthis, further escalating the crisis in the region.
Global impact: the targets and the repercussions
By targeting such a central economic conglomerate as Al-Qatirji, the EUA signal that they intend to strangle the sources of funding of their opponents in the Middle East.
The sanctions are expected to hinder the circulation of resources and the marketing of oil, as well as complicate maritime transport for the listed vessels.
These measures affect not only the Syrian regime, which relies on commercial partners to maintain its operations during the civil war, but also countries like China, one of the main buyers of Iranian oil.
While China has not been directly targeted by the sanctions, its involvement in transactions with Al-Qatirji could create friction with Washington.
Furthermore, the move strengthens the US alliance with its partners in the Persian Gulf, especially Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, which have an interest in containing Iranian influence in the region.
Syrian context: a stage of complex alliances
The Bashar al-Assad regime in Syria is another crucial element in this equation. Since the beginning of the Syrian civil war, the government has been accused of seeking controversial alliances to maintain its power, including dealings with extremist groups.
The partnership with Iran and its Revolutionary Guard is central to the regime, both in military and economic terms.
Previously sanctioned Al-Qatirji has been identified as an intermediary in several of these transactions. The new sanctions are expected to increase pressure on the Assad regime, forcing it to seek alternative ways to sustain its weakened economy.
What's to come?
US sanctions are part of a broader strategy to economically isolate adversaries in the Middle East and reduce sources of instability in the region.
However, critics point out that these measures may have limited impact, as sanctioned countries often find ways to get around economic restrictions.
It remains to be seen whether the US will be able to prevent networks like Al-Qatirji's from continuing to operate, or whether sanctions will only exacerbate international tensions without producing concrete results.