US issues sanctions over Houthi financing aid

USA sanctioned one person and three exchange houses that he said had helped transfer millions of dollars to the Houthis on behalf of Iran.

The action taken on Thursday comes as attacks by the Yemen-based militant group on ships transiting the Red Sea have paralyzed trade in the region, causing half of the container ship fleet that regularly uses the Red Sea and the Suez Canal must be diverted to much longer routes.

Brian Nelson, Treasury undersecretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, said in a statement that the action “underscores our determination to restrict the illicit flow of funds to Houthiswhich continue to carry out dangerous attacks against international shipping and risk further destabilizing the region”.

The Treasury sanctioned the money exchanger based in Türkiye Al Aman Kargo Ithalat Ihracat Ve Nakliyat Limited Sirketi, which he said serves as a conduit for Iranian money to the businesses of the Houthis in Yemen. The agency sanctioned Nabco Money Exchange and Remittance Co. in connection with that operation.

The Treasury also sanctioned Nabil Ali Ahmed Al-Hadha, president of the Currency Exchangers Association in the Houthi-controlled areas of Sana’a, alleging that he served as a financial intermediary for Iranian sponsors of the Houthis and helped disguise the origin of the funds by converting them into Yemeni rials using Al Rawda Exchange and Money Transfers Company.