By Pishtaz | 2024-12-23

With a new tranche of sanctions rolled out December 19, the United States aims to keep pressure on the Iranian regime's illicit transfer of oil by designating companies and a "shadow fleet" of vessels involved in the trade.

The new sanctions, issued by the US Treasury and State Department, follow the December 3 blacklisting of 35 entities and vessels that play a critical role in transporting sanctioned Iranian petroleum to foreign markets.

In its latest action, the US Treasury blacklisted four entities and three vessels involved in the trade of Iranian petroleum and petrochemicals, which generate billions of dollars’ worth of revenue for the Iranian regime.

"This revenue supports Iran’s nuclear program, its development and proliferation of provocative ballistic missiles, and financing of terrorist proxy groups such as Hizbullah, Hamas and the Houthis," the US Treasury said.

The Iranian regime "continues to rely on its shadowy network of vessels, companies and facilitators to finance the development of its nuclear program, the proliferation of its weapons systems, and support to its proxies,” said Treasury official Bradley T. Smith.

The Iranian petroleum sector relies on maritime industry partners to support its illicit oil trade, which generates funds to support malign activities, the Treasury said.

"Vessels transporting Iranian petroleum and petrochemicals frequently use methods of obfuscation and deception to mask this trade, posing a significant danger to the maritime industry," it noted.

"The dark fleet transporting Iranian oil tends to consist of older, poorly maintained vessels operating outside of standard maritime regulations,' it said.

"When combined with other deceptive shipping practices, this creates a dangerous operating environment that can pose serious risk to other shipping activities."

Sanctioned vessels and companies

The Treasury has sanctioned Marshall Islands-registered Journey Investment Company and Passada Maritime Limited; Rose Shipping Limited, registered in Liberia and Greece; and Hong Kong-based Master Joint Co., Limited.

It has blacklisted three vessels associated with these companies -- Djibouti-flagged crude oil tanker MS Enola, San Marino-flagged MS Angia and Panama-flagged MS Melania -- for their role in the illicit transfer of Iranian oil.

MS Enola recently received millions of barrels of Iranian oil in a ship-to-ship transfer from sanctioned tanker Dino I, and has continued to use deceptive practices to help obfuscate its illicit activity.

This includes turning off its automated identification system (AIS).

In a concurrent action, the State Department blacklisted entities and vessels in multiple jurisdictions involved in the illicit movement of Iranian petroleum.

It sanctioned Seychelles-based Shiny Sails Shipping Ltd; India-based Atlantic Navigation OPC Private Limited; Suriname-based Galaxy Management NV; and Hong Kong-based Brecalin Hong Kong Co Ltd.

And it identified Cameroon-flagged Avital, Panama-flagged Vigor, Tasca and Eliza II, Barbados-flagged Progress V and Scorpius as properties in which the sanctioned companies have an interest.