Washington targets more Iran-linked vessels
The US government has sanctioned more vessels that are allegedly a part of Iran’s shadow fleet.
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The US Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has targeted the illicit shipping and sanctions evasion network run by Iranian national Mohammad Hossein Shamkhani, it said.
“The Shamkhani network remains a major force behind Iran’s oil exports and has expanded into global containerized shipping and commodities trading,” OFAC claimed.
The treasury department has targeted over 50 individuals, entities, and vessels with its latest move, OFAC said.
The action builds on previous designations targeting the Shamkhani network in July 2025 and April 2026. The US treasury department has “now sanctioned more than 200 individuals, entities, and vessels operating under Shamkhani’s patronage,” OFAC added.
The US treasury department has sanctioned Singapore-based Sea Lead Shipping and its subsidiaries based in the UAE, Marshall Island, and India within the Shamkhani network, for managing and operating a fleet of vessels carrying Iranian goods around the world.
OFAC has designated the Panama-flagged SHENTON WAY and TANJONG PAGAR 1, and Antigua and Barbuda-flagged PAYA LEBAR – all managed and operated by Sea Lead Shipping.
Another target, Dubai-based We Freight Shipping, with offices in UAE, India, and Thailand, has provided transportation services to Shamkhani network’s container shipping businesses.
The US agency has sanctioned 25 more vessels and their owners for facilitating similar transactions for the Shamkhani network, it said.
The latest measure forms part of Washington’s campaign to cut Iran’s oil exports to zero, the treasury department said.
By assembling a shadow fleet of poorly maintained vessels to circumvent sanctions meant to restrict the movement of Iranian crude oil, Tehran has generated revenue that has supported regional armed groups, including the Yemen-based Houthis and the Lebanon-based Hezbollah, OFAC claimed earlier.
By Aparupa Mazumder
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