US sanctions over 50 entities, including Indian nationals, for facilitating Iranian energy exports
(source : ANI) ( Photo Credit : ani)
The U.S. Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced on Thursday it is sanctioning more than 50 people, companies and vessels that have helped Iran sell oil and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). The move, aimed at cutting off money for the Iranian regime and the terror groups it supports, stops these actors from moving billions of dollars of fuel.
OFAC says the network being targeted moved huge amounts of Iranian LPG and used a “shadow fleet” of almost 20 ships. The sanctions also hit a Chinese crude‑oil terminal and an independent refinery that help move the fuel.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessey said the U.S. is dismantling key parts of Iran’s energy export machine and sending a clear message that the U.S. will keep pressuring the regime that funds threats to the country’s safety.
Who is being sanctioned?
The list includes three Indian nationals:
- Varun Pula – Owner of Bertha Shipping Inc., a Marshall‑Island company that runs the Comoros‑flagged vessel PAMIR (IMO 9208239). The ship has shipped almost four million barrels of Iranian LPG to China since July 2024.
- Iyappan Raja – Owner of Evie Lines Inc., also based in the Marshall Islands. His Panama‑flagged SAPPHIRE GAS (IMO 9320738) has moved more than one million barrels of Iranian LPG to China since April 2025.
- Soniya Shrestha – Runs India‑based Vega Star Ship Management Pvt. Ltd., which operates the Comoros‑flagged NEPTA (IMO 9013701). That vessel has transported LPG from Iran to Pakistan since January 2025.
These shipping companies and their vessels are singled out for shipping huge volumes of Iranian fuel to third‑country buyers.
How the sanctions work
Once designated, all assets in the United States and under the control of U.S. persons are frozen. The sanctions also bar any company that is 50 % or more owned by a blocked individual. U.S. businesses and persons must stop all transactions with these entities unless they receive special permission.
Violations can trigger civil or criminal penalties against U.S. and foreign parties. The goal, OFAC says, is to force a change in Iran’s behavior. If an individual or company believes it has been wrongly listed, there is a formal process to seek removal from the sanctions list.
Why it matters
Iran’s oil and LPG sales provide crucial revenue that keeps the regime stable and lets it finance terrorist activities across the region. By hitting sellers, traders and shipping firms—especially those in countries like India and China that trade with Iran—U.S. officials aim to choke off that cash flow.
The sanctions ripple beyond the listed companies. Ships tied to the “shadow fleet,” the Chinese terminal, and the refinery may face new scrutiny, disrupting market dynamics and forcing other traders to break ties.
This move is part of a broader U.S. strategy that began under President Trump and continues today. It shows the U.S. remains focused on curbing Iran’s energy exports and limiting its access to international finance.
For consumers and businesses, the key takeaway is that any U.S. firm dealing with Iranian oil or shipping from Iran must carry out a thorough check. Even indirect links to the sanctioned individuals or entities can trigger penalties.
In short, the Treasury is tightening the net around Iran’s energy exports by targeting key players, aiming to reduce the funding stream that supports terrorism and to pressure the Iranian government to change its policies.
Source: aninews
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