Washington, DC (EFE).- The United States on Thursday imposed sanctions on 29 vessels and their management companies for allegedly transporting Iranian crude oil and petroleum products, accusing them of being part of Iran’s so-called “shadow fleet” used to evade international sanctions and generate revenue for Tehran.
The measures were announced by the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), which said the ships and related firms helped move hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of Iranian hydrocarbons through deceptive maritime practices.
According to OFAC, the sanctioned vessels concealed the true origin of their cargoes and the final destinations of shipments in order to bypass restrictions on Iran’s oil exports.
“These vessels and companies enabled the shipment of Iranian oil to end users while disguising critical information,” the Treasury said in a statement.
Among those designated is Egyptian businessman Hatem Elsaid Fair Ibrahim Sakr, whose companies are linked to seven of the sanctioned vessels.
The list also includes shipping firms operating in or registered across several jurisdictions, including the United Arab Emirates, India, Panama, and the Marshall Islands.
Maximum pressure strategy
The Treasury said the action is part of Washington’s “maximum pressure” strategy against Iran, implemented under Executive Order 13902 and National Security Presidential Memorandum 2.
The goal, US officials said, is to raise the cost of exporting Iranian oil and reduce the revenue Tehran earns from each barrel sold, limiting funds available for activities Washington considers destabilizing.
Venezuela link
The sanctions come days after US President Donald Trump said his administration would seize all oil tankers entering or leaving Venezuela if they are subject to sanctions for links to Iran.
Trump has stepped up pressure on both Tehran and Caracas since returning to the White House, with his administration targeting shipping networks accused of helping sanctioned governments continue oil exports despite international restrictions.
The Treasury warned that it would continue to pursue vessels, companies, and individuals involved in what it described as the illicit Iranian oil trade.
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