The United States has tightened up its sanctions on Iran’s petroleum and petrochemical sectors in response to Iran’s October 1 attack on Israel, its second direct attack on Israel this year.
The US Treasury stated that this action intensified financial pressure on Iran, “limiting the regime’s ability to earn critical energy revenues to undermine stability in the region and attack US partners and allies”.
“Today’s sanctions target Iranian efforts to channel revenues from its energy industry to finance deadly and disruptive activity – including the development of its nuclear program, the proliferation of ballistic missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles, and support to regional terrorist proxies,” said the secretary of the Treasury Janet Yellen.
The Treasury stated in a press release that Iran is using a shadow fleet to load and transport Iranian oil for sale to buyers in Asia. According to the statement, UAE-based Max Maritime Solutions has used vessels under its management to conduct multiple ship-to-ship transfers of Iranian oil with vessels affiliated with the US-designated National Iranian Tanker Company, which moves Iranian oil for NIOC, and transports that oil to refineries to China.
Both of these companies were put under sanctions as well as Max Maritime-managed Bendigo and Carnatic tankers which, according to the Treasury conducted nearly a dozen ship-to-ship transfers of Iranian oil with NITC-affiliated vessels in 2023 alone. Another of its vessels, the Salvia, was also sanctioned. In total, the Treasury put sanctions on 17 companies and 23 vessels.
Other companies include Malaysia’s Alya Marine and Delnaz Ship Management, Hong Kong-based Cathay Harvest Marine, Derecttor Company, and Celia Armas, Davina Shipping and Rita Shipping from the Marshall Islands, Diamante Tankers from Panama, Surinamese Elza Shipping, Engen Management, Strong Roots Provider, and Glazing Future Management, India’s Gabbaro Ship Services, UAE-based Harry Victor Ship Management & Operation and Jazira Das International.
As for the vessels placed under sanctions, the Treasury put the tankers Anhona, Wen Yao, and Goodwin owned by Harry Victor Ship Management, Diamante’s Aventus I, Strong Roots’ Berg 1, Derecttor’s Carina and Crystal Rose, Alya Marine’s Carol and Shanaye Queen, Delnaz’ Cross Ocean, Satina, Tyche I, and Dimitra II, Davina Shipping’s Davina, Elza Shipping’s Elza, Gabbaro’s Hornet, Cathay Harvest’s Luna Prime, Celia Armas’ Octans, Rita Shipping’s Spirit of Casper, and Glazing Future’s Voras.
