Trump Administration continues expansion of sanctions on Syria and Iran

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Although preoccupied by the recent presidential election, the Trump Administration continues to expand sanctions on the Syrian regime and its allies.

On Monday, the U.S. Department of the Treasury announced new sanctions against figures and entities linked to the Syrian oil sector as part of the U.S. campaign to apply political and economic pressure on the Syrian regime.

Eleven entities and eight individuals were included in the recent expansion of sanctions.

Among the most prominent of these figures are Hussam Qatrji, Nabil Mohammed Touma, and Nasser Ali.

The list of entities included the Syrian Ministry of Oil and Mineral Resources, the Tohma International Group, the State Oil Refining and Derivatives Distribution Corporation, the Small Enterprise Management Company, and the Coastal Refineries Company.

U.S. sources said additional sanctions targeting the Iranian government and security officials who participated in the repression on anti-government protests nearly a year ago are expected early next week.

The sources said that the announcement of the sanctions will coincide with the one-year anniversary of what is considered the most violent repression of protesters in Iran since the revolution of 1979.

They also noted that sanctions have been in preparation for months, the latest and most severe in a series of sanctions imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump on Iran.