NEW DELHI: The United States on Thursday imposed sweeping new sanctions targeting a global network of front companies, shipping firms, and vessels alleged to be financing Iran’s military through illicit oil sales.
The move follows Iran’s defeat in the recent 12-Day War with Israel and comes amid concerns over Iran’s efforts to rebuild its armed forces and advance its nuclear ambitions.
The U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) said the network has been generating billions of dollars annually by exporting crude oil using a “shadow fleet” of tankers that disguise the origin of shipments.
“Today’s action continues Treasury’s campaign to cut off funding for the Iranian regime’s development of nuclear weapons and support of terrorist proxies,” Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said. “Disrupting the Iranian regime’s revenue is critical to helping curb its nuclear ambitions.”
Sanctions on Front Companies and Vessels
OFAC sanctioned more than a dozen firms and six vessels accused of supporting Sepehr Energy Jahan Nama Pars Company, the designated oil-sales arm of the Iranian military. These include UAE-based Luan Bird Shipping Service, Mars Investment LLC, Moon Line Plastics, Alsafeenah Althahabya Ship & Boats Spare Parts Trading, and India-based RN Ship Management Pvt Ltd.
Ships involved in transporting Iranian crude—such as BOREAS, SIRI, OXIS, BALU, and ROC—were named, along with Panama-, Greece-, and Liberia-linked maritime entities operating oil tankers used in ship-to-ship transfers to obscure cargo origins.
The Treasury said vessels like TUSITALA, NEXO, KAISA I, and GAS ATHENA shipped millions of barrels of Iranian petroleum products in 2025, mainly to South Asia.
Airline Network Supporting Armed Groups
Sanctions were also issued against Iranian carrier Mahan Air and subsidiary Yazd International Airways, accused of transporting IRGC-QF personnel and weapons to Iranian proxies in Syria, Lebanon, and beyond. The U.S. identified several Western aircraft acquired covertly as blocked property.
Global Buyers and Brokers Targeted
The U.S. also designated German firm BPT Berlin Petroleum Trading GmbH and UAE-based Shandong Independent Energy Trading DMCC, which allegedly purchased Iranian crude at discounts as steep as $17 per barrel.
“Maximum Pressure” Strategy
The measures, enacted under E.O. 13224 and E.O. 13902, expand the Trump Administration’s maximum pressure sanctions framework aimed at Iran’s oil, petrochemical, and logistics sectors.
Under the sanctions, U.S. persons and companies are prohibited from dealing with the designated entities, and any assets under U.S. jurisdiction are immediately frozen.
Penalties Warning
The Treasury warned that both U.S. and foreign actors engaging with sanctioned entities face severe civil and criminal consequences under OFAC enforcement rules.
