In a report by Malaysia Kini this Thursday, a US Treasury Department official issued a stark warning about the environmental dangers posed by the illegal transportation of Iranian oil in waters off Malaysia. This comes as the United States intensifies its focus on cutting off funding to militant groups facilitated by South East Asia.
A senior Treasury official disclosed earlier this week that the United States views Iran's ability to transport oil as heavily reliant on service providers based in Malaysia. Further efforts are being made by the US to prevent Malaysia from becoming a jurisdiction where Hamas could potentially gather and transfer funds.
Brian Nelson, the Treasury's Assistant Secretary for Terrorist Financing and Financial Crimes, highlighted one of the main revenue streams for Iran: the sale of illicit oil to buyers in East Asia. Nelson pointed out that "Many of these shipments pass through the waters surrounding Malaysia and are loaded onto vessels of dubious legitimacy, posing significant environmental and safety risks."
This statement underscores the growing concern of the US about the environmental and legal implications of Iran's oil trade in the region and its commitment to disrupting financial networks supporting militant groups.