More Sanctions on Iran Facilitators

The Treasury Department announced it is targeting a network facilitating shipments valued in the hundreds of millions for the Iranian military.

Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control announced additional action against Iranian military revenue generation, targeting Oceanlink Maritime DMCC for facilitating the shipment of Iranian commodities on behalf of Iran's Armed Forces General Staff and Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics.

OFAC is also identifying 13 vessels managed by Oceanlink Maritime DMCC as blocked property. The Oceanlink Maritime DMCC-managed vessel HECATE recently loaded Iranian commodities valued at over $100 million dollars via a ship-to-ship transfer from another sanctioned tanker, the DOVER, on behalf of Iran's Sepehr Energy Jahan Nama Pars, which OFAC sanctioned in November 2023 for its role selling Iranian commodities for the AFGS and MODAFL.

"We are focused on disrupting Iran's ability to finance its terrorist proxy and partner groups and support to Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine," said Treasury Undersecretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Brian Nelson. "The United States will continue to use our full range of tools to target the illicit funding streams that enable Iran's destabilizing activities in the region and around the world."

OFAC also is updating the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List to reflect that the name of OFAC-sanctioned vessel YOUNG YONG has been changed to the SAINT LIGHT, possibly to obfuscate its identity. The SAINT LIGHT, which is also operating under the name STELLAR ORACLE, conducted an STS transfer on March 27, 2024 with a sanctioned vessel operated by the National Iranian Tanker Company, the HAWK, from which it loaded over $100 million worth of Iranian commodities. The HAWK had loaded the same cargo on March 22, 2024 via an STS transfer from the vessel KOHANA, which OFAC sanctioned on February 27, 2024 for its role in attempting to ship MODAFL-owned commodities.

Oceanlink Maritime DMCC, which is based in the United Arab Emirates, is being designated for having materially assisted, sponsored or provided financial, material or technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of, Sepehr Energy.

The HECATE, ANTHEA, BOREAS, CAPE GAS, GLAUCUS, OCEANUS GAS, HEBE, CALYPSO GAS, MERAKI, ELSA, BAXTER, DEMETER, and OUREA are being identified as property in which Oceanlink Maritime DMCC has an interest.