Barran Press
Yemen's Presidential Council Chairman, Rashad Al-Alimi, met with the US Ambassador to Yemen, Stephen Fagin, on Tuesday to discuss the possibility of reviewing the US Treasury Department's decision to impose sanctions on prominent Yemeni businessman and parliament member Sheikh Hamid Al-Ahmar.
According to the official Yemeni news agency Saba, the meeting addressed areas of bilateral cooperation between the two countries and their future prospects at various levels. The conversation also covered the current situation in Yemen and mutual interests, including the international support needed to strengthen the national currency, mitigate the impact of halted oil exports, and address rising shipping costs due to Houthi terrorist attacks supported by the Iranian regime.
The discussions included the procedures issued by the US Treasury against certain national commercial entities and explored legal avenues for reconsidering those measures through established channels between the two nations.
On October 7, the US Treasury announced sanctions against Sheikh Hamid Al-Ahmar, along with nine of his companies and three Arab businessmen, citing their financial support for the Islamic resistance movement Hamas.
According to a statement from the Treasury, the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) added three individuals and one charity linked to Hamas, alongside a financial institution controlled by the group in Gaza.
The individuals mentioned in the statement include Palestinian Majed Al-Zeir, Austrian Adel Saad Al-Din Hassan Dughman, and Jordanian Mohammad Mahmoud Awad Hanoon, along with several financial entities affiliated with them.
The Treasury's statement described Sheikh Hamid Al-Ahmar as a long-time supporter of Hamas, noting that he and his companies play critical roles in raising funds for the organization, often under the guise of charitable work.
Al-Ahmar, a Yemeni national residing in Turkey, is identified as a key international supporter of Hamas and a significant figure in its previously secret investment portfolio, which reportedly managed over $500 million in assets at its peak. Since at least 2013, he has served as the president of the Jerusalem International Charity Foundation, affiliated with Hamas and based in Lebanon.
The Treasury categorized Al-Ahmar under Executive Order 13224 for providing material support to Hamas, including financial, technological, or logistical aid.