Investing.com — The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control sanctioned over 30 individuals, entities, and vessels on Wednesday for enabling illicit Iranian petroleum sales and Iran’s ballistic missile and advanced conventional weapons production.

The action targeted vessels operating as part of Iran’s shadow fleet, which transport Iranian petroleum and petroleum products to foreign markets. The Treasury also sanctioned multiple networks that enable Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics to secure precursor materials and sensitive machinery required to reconstitute ballistic missile and advanced conventional weapons production capacity.

« Iran exploits financial systems to sell illicit oil, launder the proceeds, procure components for its nuclear and conventional weapons programs, and support its terrorist proxies, » said Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent.

The Treasury intensified pressure on the Iranian shadow fleet, targeting 12 shadow fleet vessels and their respective owners or operators that have collectively transported hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of Iranian petroleum and petrochemical products.

The Panama-flagged HOOT transported hundreds of thousands of barrels of Iranian liquified petroleum gas to Bangladesh in 2025. The Barbados-flagged OCEAN KOI has transported millions of barrels of Iranian high sulfur fuel oil and condensate since May 2025. The Barbados-flagged NORTH STAR has transported nearly two million barrels of Iranian high sulfur fuel oil since late 2025.

The Comoros-flagged FELICITA has transported millions of barrels of Iranian high sulfur fuel oil and naphtha since 2023. The Iran-flagged ATEELA 1 and ATEELA 2 have transported over 100,000 barrels of Iranian petroleum products for the National Iranian Oil Company since late 2025.

The Palau-flagged NIBA has transported millions of barrels of Iranian liquified petroleum gas, including butane and propane, since 2025. The Vanuatu-flagged LUMA has transported hundreds of thousands of barrels of Iranian liquified petroleum gas to end users in Bangladesh and Pakistan since late 2025.

The Panama-flagged REMIZ has transported millions of barrels of Iranian oil to East Asia since 2025. The Palau-flagged DANUTA I has transported millions of barrels of Iranian liquified petroleum gas to East Asia since 2023.

The Palau-flagged ALAA has transported dozens of Iranian liquified petroleum gas shipments to various jurisdictions, including Türkiye, since 2022. The Panama-flagged GAS FATE has transported over a million barrels of Iranian grey ammonia to various jurisdictions since 2024.

The Treasury also targeted nine individuals and entities based in Iran, Türkiye, and the United Arab Emirates that have facilitated the procurement of precursor chemicals and sensitive machinery for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics and their respective missile and advanced conventional weapons programs.

Iran-based Oje Parvaz Mado Nafar Company produces unmanned aerial vehicle engines used in Iran’s Shahed-131 and Shahed-136 unmanned aerial vehicles. Türkiye-based companies Utus Gumrukleme Gida Tekstil Ithalat Ihracat Dis Ticaret ve Sanayi Limited Sirketi, Arya Global Gida Sanayi ve Ticaret Limited Sirketi, and Altis Tekstil Makina Ticaret Limited Sirketi have served as financial intermediaries for Oje Parvaz Mado Nafar Company’s procurements.

Iran-based Adak Pargas Pars Trading Company and UAE-based Mostafa Roknifard Prime Choice General Trading LLC have facilitated efforts to procure sodium perchlorate, including for Iranian government customers such as Parchin Chemical Industries.

The Treasury designated four individuals based in Iran for their connection to Qods Aviation Industries, an element of Iran’s Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics. Qods Aviation Industries employees Mohammad Abedini and Mehdi Zand have traveled to Russia on behalf of Qods Aviation Industries to provide support to resolve technical issues with Qods Aviation Industries-designed, Mohajer-series unmanned aerial vehicles for the Russian Federation. Qods Aviation Industries employees Mehrdad Jafari and Ebrahim Shariatzadeh have traveled to Venezuela on behalf of Qods Aviation Industries to provide unmanned aerial vehicle technical support.

All property and interests in property of the sanctioned persons that are in the United States or in the possession or control of U.S. persons are blocked and must be reported to the Office of Foreign Assets Control. In 2025, the Office of Foreign Assets Control sanctioned more than 875 persons, vessels, and aircraft as part of this campaign.

This article was generated with the support of AI and reviewed by an editor. For more information see our T&C.