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Biden Admin Ignored $1B Iranian Oil Smuggling, 2B Barrels Exported, Trump to Review Sanctions

Jan 4, 2025, 01:07 PM

Reports reveal that the Biden administration largely ignored intelligence on a billion-dollar Iranian oil smuggling operation involving Iraq as a central player. The scheme, which reportedly generates $1 billion annually for Iran, has funded Iranian-backed groups such as Hamas and Hezbollah. Intelligence reports detailed how Iranian oil was mixed with Iraqi supplies and exported globally, bypassing U.S. sanctions. During Biden's presidency, Iran exported approximately 2 billion barrels of oil, generating an estimated $135 billion in revenue. The smuggling operation relied on a 'ghost fleet' of 477 tankers, with 139 vessels sanctioned in 2024. Despite receiving a 45-page report on the operation, U.S. authorities under the Biden administration did not implement proposed sanctions targeting Iraq. Critics argue that this leniency has strengthened ties between Iraq and Iran, with Iraq becoming a key facilitator of Iranian oil smuggling. The issue is expected to face renewed scrutiny as President-elect Donald Trump prepares to take office, with indications of a potential return to stricter sanctions on Iran and Iraq.