Senior Counsel Anthony Astaphan has confirmed that the Roosevelt Skerrit-led administration government has taken prompt action to revoke the passport of Iranian national Mohammed Hossein Shamkhani.
This decision comes in response to intensified sanctions imposed by the United States against Iran.
The U.S. has ramped up its sanctions efforts, particularly targeting a vast network involved in oil shipping that is allegedly managed by Shamkhani. Notably, his father holds a prominent position as an advisor to Iran’s Supreme Leader.
Dominica’s officials have confirmed that the process to annul Shamkhani’s passport is underway, following U.S. requests for cooperation. They say the U.S. government has expressed appreciation for Dominica’s rapid response.
Shamkhani had been using a passport issued under the alias “Hugo Hayek” to evade sanctions and facilitate international travel. According to the U.S. Treasury Department, this document was acquired through Dominica’s Citizenship by Investment program, allowing him to escape scrutiny while engaging in oil-related activities.
The sanctions, announced on July 30, encompass 115 individuals and entities from 17 countries. They particularly target 52 vessels, 15 shipping companies, and 53 organizations involved in laundering significant sums from oil sales originating from Iran and Russia, mainly to markets in China.
U.S. officials have warned that any companies engaging in transactions involving Iranian oil risk being cut off from the American financial system, raising concerns for businesses operating in this sector.