The U.S. government has announced the expansion of sanctions against the Iranian regime’s oil and petrochemical sectors in response to Tehran’s missile attack on Israel.
The U.S. Departments of Treasury and State department announced the list of these sanctions on the evening of October 11.
The new sanctions target key sectors of Iran’s economy, aiming to deprive the Iranian government of funding for its nuclear and missile programs.
Jake Sullivan, National Security Advisor of the United States, stated in a press release that the U.S. had previously made it clear that Iran’s dangerous missile attack on Israel would face severe consequences.
Sullivan noted that the attack targeted Tel Aviv, Israel’s most populous city, and could have killed hundreds, if not thousands, of innocent people. He wrote that fortunately; the attack was thwarted thanks to the collaboration between the U.S. military and Israeli Defense Forces.
On the evening of October 1, Iran’s regime fired about 200 missiles at Israel, and Israel has pledged to respond to the attack.
This was the Iranian regime’s second missile attack on Israel, and according to Iranian officials, it was in retaliation for the deaths of Ismail Haniyeh and Hassan Nasrallah in Tehran and Beirut.
The regime’s previous attack on Israel occurred on the night of April 13 in response to an attack on its consulate in Damascus.
According to the White House National Security Advisor’s statement, the new sanctions include actions against the “ghost fleet” that illegally transports Iranian oil to buyers around the world.
The U.S. Treasury Department announced that the new sanctions target 16 companies, and 17 ships involved in transporting Iranian oil and petrochemical products.
Max Maritime Solutions FZE, based in the United Arab Emirates, and three ships under its management, CARNATIC, BENDIGO, and SALVIA.
According to the Treasury Department, this company and its subsidiary ships carried out nearly 12 ship-to-ship transfers of Iranian oil in 2023, most of which was later sent to refineries in China.
The ship LUNA PRIME, formerly known as Selene, owned and managed by Hong Kong-based Cathay Harvest Marine Ltd. This ship also transferred Iranian oil to several refineries in the People’s Republic of China and conducted a ship-to-ship transfer with an Iranian tanker near Singapore, carrying tens of thousands of tons of Iranian heavy crude oil.
Liberia-based Elza Shipping SA is the registered owner of the ELZA, which has been involved in transferring hundreds of thousands of barrels of gas condensate from an Iranian ship, as well as ship-to-ship transfers near Singapore, transporting tens of thousands of tons of South Pars gas condensate.
Jazira Das International Oil Products Trading LLC, based in the UAE, as the recipient of falsified shipment documents, has passed off millions of barrels of Iranian crude as UAE oil and coordinated the transport of several Iranian oil shipments with Chinese oil companies under the name of the U.S., obscuring the involvement of Iran’s National Oil Company.
The Harry Victor Ship Management and Operation L.L.C., which manages the ships GOODWIN, ANHONA, and WEN YAO, has transported several petrochemical shipments for Iran’s Triliance Petrochemical Company.
Sanctions from the U.S. Department of State:
The U.S. Department of State also announced sanctions on six companies and six ships involved in Iran’s oil and petrochemical trade.
Engen Management NV, based in Suriname, which operates as the commercial manager of the HORNET in the transport of Iranian oil.
Strong Roots Provider NV, based in Suriname, which serves as the commercial manager of the BERG in transporting Iranian oil.
Glazing Future Management NV, based in Suriname, which operates as the commercial manager of the VORAS in the transport of Iranian oil.
India-based Gabbaro Ship Services PVT LTD, which acts as the technical manager of the HORNET in the transport of Iranian oil.
Alya Marine Sendirian Berhad, based in Malaysia, which operates as the commercial manager of the SHANAYE QUEEN in the transport of Iranian oil.
Celia Armas Ltd, based in China, which operates as the commercial manager of the OCTANS in the transport of Iranian oil.
The U.S. Department of State has also sanctioned six ships: HORNET, BERG 1، VORAS، SHANAYE QUEEN، CAROL and OCTANS.
