Qorvis's request for flexibility on Russia and Iran sanctions in the US sparks controversy

It has been reported that the US-based lobbying firm Qorvis requested that the Donald Trump administration ease certain sanctions on Russia and Iran, citing the need for stability in the oil market.

According to a report by Bloomberg citing sources familiar with the matter, a few days after this initiative, the US Department of the Treasury issued short-term exemption licenses allowing for the unloading and sale of Russian and Iranian oil stranded on tankers.

The report emphasized that it is unknown whether the recommendations prepared by Qorvis were directly influential in Washington's decision. However, criticisms have emerged that these permits could create a lucrative opportunity for "shadow shipping" networks used to evade sanctions pressure.

Qorvis's lobbying activities in the oil sector are not new. It is stated that in recent years, the company has undertaken representation for the Singapore-based Wellbred Capital and the Dubai-based 2Rivers Group. Western officials speaking to Bloomberg alleged that these two entities are under the control of Iranian oil trader Hossein Shamkhani and Azerbaijani businessman Etibar Eyyub, both of whom are on the sanctions list.

Qorvis denies allegations that it works directly on behalf of Shamkhani or Eyyub. While company officials argue that they do not accept payments from sanctioned individuals, company executive Samantha Sault also stated that these names were never official clients.

Former employees and some sources claim that Qorvis provided comprehensive services to structures linked to these businessmen, including consulting on US sanctions policies and coordinating contacts with American authorities. It was also alleged that company representatives met directly with Shamkhani to convey methods for protecting the financial network from American regulators.

It was also reported that Qorvis supported the rebranding process of Coral Energy, which is associated with Eyyub, under the name 2Rivers Group. In December 2025, the European Union announced that Eyyub had established and managed a vast network of companies, including Coral Energy, and that this network controlled a significant portion of the ships belonging to Russia's "shadow fleet." Qorvis, however, claims that it has not had any contact with Eyyub.

The US administration had previously imposed sanctions on more than 10 entities linked to Shamkhani's network, and the Department of Justice had filed two separate civil forfeiture cases to seize assets associated with these companies. Washington had implemented the first restrictions on Shamkhani and his network in July 2025.

News Source: 12punto