US sanctions vessels linked to Houthi network
Washington has sanctioned vessels and maritime companies that have facilitated illicit weapons procurement and conducted oil smuggling operations on behalf of Yemen-based Houthi armed group.
PHOTO: A large container vessel. Getty Images
The US Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has sanctioned two vessels and several companies that have facilitated the transport of oil products on behalf of Iran and “enabled the Houthis to acquire dual-use materials,” and components used to manufacture missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).
“The Houthis use a network of international shipping and logistics companies to transport military-grade components from third-country suppliers to their forces in Yemen,” OFAC argued.
The US treasury department has sanctioned the Gabon-flagged oil tanker, IZUMO, for transporting petroleum products on behalf of Sepehr Energy, a previously sanctioned Iranian energy company.
IZUMO is owned, managed and operated by Marshall Islands-registered Gemini Marine Limited. The shipping company also owns the Cook Islands-flagged crude oil tanker, FRUNZE. OFAC has sanctioned both vessels along with the company for their involvement in illicit shipments of Iranian and Russian oil, it said.
It has sanctioned more companies, which have facilitated such shipments.
UAVs are drones that the Houthis have been using to attack commercial vessels transiting the Red Sea.
By Aparupa Mazumder
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