China Shipping Container Lines (CSCL)

On June 23, 2011, the U.S. Treasury Department sanctioned Tidewater Middle East Co. (“Tidewater”), Iran’s major port operator, because the IRGC owns it and uses it for illicit activities including weapons shipments. (U.S. Department of the Treasury Press Center, “Treasury Sanctions Major Iranian Commercial Entities,” 6/23/11)  The EU followed with its own sanctions against Tidewater on January 23, 2012. (Official Journal or the European Union: Council Decision 2012/35/CFSP) (http://www.treasury.gov/press-center/press-releases/Pages/tg1217.aspx) (http://www.treasury.gov/press-center/press-releases/Pages/tg1217.aspx) (http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2012:019:0022:0030:EN:PDF)

Uses Tidewater Middle East Co.’s private terminals in the Shahid Rajaee Port Complex. (Tidewater: Reflection of Tomorrow) (http://mytcts.com/MYTCTS_Static/Introduction/Files/TidewaterProfile.pdf)

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"China is among Tehran's main allies, but its shipping firms are also bailing out. China Shipping Container Lines Co (CSCL), among the world's top 10 lines, has become the latest group to exit Iran, a CSCL official confirmed. In a June 27 letter seen by Reuters to U.S. pressure group United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI), whose board includes former CIA and British intelligence chiefs, Shanghai-headquartered CSCL said it took 'trade sanctions compliance with the utmost seriousness,' ceasing all Iran business from July 1." (Reuters, "Chinese firms drop Iran as latest U.S. sanctions bite," 7/1/2013) (http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/07/01/iran-shipping-idUSL5N0F43CH20130701)