US State Dept issues advisory on secondary sanctions on Iran metal industry

The US State Department has issued an advisory to “alert persons globally […] regardless of nationality or location” to the “significant” sanctions risk involved in transfers or exports to Iran of graphite electrodes or needle coke. The risk is said to apply to entities/individuals, including producers, exporters, port operators, shippers, shipping companies, vessel operators, and owners, even when the intended end-user is not in Iran’s metal sector. The advisory states that revenue from such materials may be used to advance Iran’s proliferation programme, regional aggression, and support for terrorist groups.