Washington, D.C. [U.S.], July 15 (ANI): In a significant expansion of Washington’s economic pressure campaign against Tehran, the United States has sanctioned more than 50 individuals, companies, and vessels suspected of participating in an illicit Iranian oil transportation and sanctions-evasion network.
The measures, announced by the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), target maritime trade operations allegedly controlled by Iranian energy businessman Mohammad Hossein Shamkhani.
The sanctions apply to six individuals, including Asghar Aghili Dehkordi and Behzad Moghadas, as well as 24 corporate entities and 20 vessels.
U.S. authorities allege that the sanctioned individuals and entities helped evade trade restrictions through a complex network of financial intermediaries, logistics operations, shipping managers, and foreign shell companies.
The Treasury Department said any assets or property interests belonging to the sanctioned parties that fall under U.S. jurisdiction will be blocked immediately.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the enforcement action is intended to disrupt a key financial network that supports the Iranian government.
“The Iranian regime survives on deception, and the Shamkhani network is one of its most profitable engines,” Bessent said, adding that the sanctions are designed to dismantle the financial systems that enable activities Washington says threaten U.S. national security and international maritime commerce.
The sanctions come amid heightened tensions in the Strait of Hormuz following recent attacks on commercial vessels that U.S. officials have blamed on Tehran.
The U.S. Department of State said the sanctioned network used Iranian and foreign nationals, front companies, and overseas business structures to market restricted commodities and channel the proceeds back to Iran.
State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott said the sanctions are intended to dismantle Shamkhani’s “illicit shipping and sanctions evasion network,” which Washington alleges has helped circumvent international trade restrictions and finance Iranian operations targeting commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz. (ANI)
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