With six kids, I play a lot of games – especially hide-and-seek. My girls love the thrill of running around our home to find each member of our family. It’s a ton of fun.
Hide-and-seek is a game best left to kids – no country should be playing hide-and-seek to evade international sanctions in order to finance acts of global terrorism. But that’s exactly what Iran is doing with their “ghost armada.”
Iran is the world’s leading state sponsor of terrorism – and they’re using a secret network of ships to evade international sanctions, sell oil to countries, and fund terrorism. Despite Iran’s attempt to hide these tankers, the Biden Administration is well aware of these tactics – but has taken little action to put a stop to this fleet.
In fact, this summer, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen promised the Biden Administration was “working to crack down” on tankers aiding illicit Iranian oil sales. Months later, Treasury finally imposed additional sanctions. This delay is unacceptable.
As a member of the Financial Services Committee, I’ve fought for an answer to a simple question: Why has the Biden Administration failed to hold companies accountable for supporting the “ghost armada” that funds Iran’s acts of terror? Every Treasury official ignored my questions – both in person and in writing.
While the Biden Administration is finally taking a step in the right direction today, I won’t stop fighting until every company complicit in Iran’s reign of terror is held accountable.