Dominica Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit (photo by natureislenews)
The United States has intensified its sanctions against Iran, focusing on a sprawling oil shipping network allegedly overseen by Mohammad Hossein Shamkhani, whose father is a high-ranking advisor to Iran’s Supreme Leader.
At the heart of these sanctions is a passport issued by Dominica, under the alias “Hugo Hayek.” U.S. authorities allege that Shamkhani utilized this document to evade international sanctions and facilitate his travels.
The U.S. Treasury Department has stated that the passport, obtained through Dominica’s Citizenship by Investment (CBI) program, allowed him to bypass scrutiny while executing oil-related transactions.
Announced on July 30, the sanctions encompass 115 designations across 17 different countries. They specifically target 52 vessels, 15 shipping companies, and 53 entities implicated in laundering billions of dollars from Iranian and Russian oil sales, primarily to buyers in China.
U.S. officials have cautioned that any entities engaging in trade with Iranian oil could face exclusion from the American financial system, heightening the stakes for companies involved in this sector.
The move underscores the U.S.’s ongoing efforts to combat international sanctions evasion and assert its influence in global energy markets.
I reiterate, we should distance ourselves from any Caribbean leader who has immersed him/herself in any scheme to flood our relatively peaceful bit of paradise with so-called refugees from the Middle East!!! We already have too many of them already and don’t want any more!!!! In many respects, Dominica is nearer and dearer to me than even Barbuda. Our two Prime Minister are brothers (not biologically) Legal luminary Astaphan, not the baboon from St. Kitts,is a fully adopted native son. If Skerrit is losing his marbles, let him bite the dust in the public’s interest. Today is EMANCIPATION DAY, for God’s sake!!!!
I saw a comment where skerrit invited the refugees from Palestine to come to Dominica for saftey. Your countrymen can hardly buy food abd this is the nonesence you are speaking about in Parliament? You need two hard kick
The man just needs to get out of the way so that the country can begin tracking a path towards recovery
The government needs to be upfront about the potential economic impact of these sanctions on the average Dominican citizen. We’ve seen in past reports that the economy is already fragile, and this could be a major blow.
I heard a clip of Mr telling them Dominicans that they can go to hell is not their damn business where he gets his money. I will leave the rest for when leaders like that behind bars
And here we go again. Soon the sanctions will impact Dominicans directly
Is it just me or anyone realize how devilish Skerrit look
Wow! What a mess!
If this man loves this island he needs to vanish out of the way so we can do everything to build back!
These oil laundering operations are massive. The use of CBI passports for geopolitical evasion is a major loophole.
If one bad actor got through Dominica’s system, how many more are out there with clean documents?