Washington, Nov 21 (UNI) United States on Thursday announced a sweeping new round of sanctions aimed at dismantling what officials describe as Iran’s sprawling illicit petroleum, shipping and aviation networks that bankroll the country’s military and regional proxy forces.
In a coordinated action, the State and Treasury departments designated dozens of companies, individuals, vessels and aircraft across multiple countries, including India, Panama, the UAE, the Seychelles and Germany, for allegedly helping Tehran move and sell sanctioned oil and petroleum products.
The State Department said it targeted 17 entities, individuals and vessels, while the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) imposed sanctions on 41 additional targets, intensifying Washington’s campaign to choke off Iranian revenue streams. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the measures seek to “cut off funding for the Iranian regime’s development of nuclear weapons and support of terrorist proxies,” adding that disrupting Iran’s oil revenues is “critical to helping curb its nuclear ambitions.”
The Department said following its defeat in the 12-Day War with Israel, Iran’s military has increasingly come to rely on the sale of Iranian crude oil to supplement its annual budget and finance the rebuilding of its depleted forces.
“Today’s action continues Treasury’s campaign to cut off funding for the Iranian regime’s development of nuclear weapons and support of terrorist proxies,” said Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent. “Disrupting the Iranian regime’s revenue is critical to helping curb its nuclear ambitions.”
The sanctions package focuses heavily on Sepehr Energy Jahan Nama Pars Company, the Iranian military’s oil-sales arm. US officials accuse the group of running a global web of front companies and a “shadow fleet” of tankers that move billions of dollars’ worth of crude oil each year, revenue Iran has increasingly relied on following its defeat in the recent 12-Day War with Israel.
Companies in the UAE, Panama, India, Greece and Germany were sanctioned for allegedly transporting, financing or purchasing Iranian crude. These include UAE-based Luan Bird Shipping, Mars Investment and Moon Line Plastics; Panama’s Loire Shipping; Greece-based Altomare S.A.; and India’s RN Ship Management.
US authorities say these firms facilitated ship-to-ship transfers, falsified documentation and negotiated large oil purchases at steep discounts aimed at masking the sanctioned crude’s origin. The United States also expanded its crackdown on Iran’s “shadow fleet” by designating owners and operators of tankers that have moved millions of barrels of Iranian crude, fuel oil and liquified petroleum gas to buyers across Asia.
OFAC further moved against Iran’s so-called shadow fleet of tankers, identifying multiple vessels as blocked property and targeting their owners. U.S. officials said the ships have transported millions of barrels of Iranian oil, liquified petroleum gas and fuel oil to buyers primarily in Asia.
Newly designated entities include Liberia-registered Pioneer Tankers Marine Incorporated, owner of the PIONEER SAM, which has allegedly moved more than 10 million barrels of Iranian fuel oil in two years, as well as a cluster of Panama-based maritime companies accused of operating vessels that moved Iranian LPG, including the TUSITALA, NEXO, KAISA I and GAS ATHENA. Washington says these ships are linked to Seyed Asadoollah Emamjomeh, an Iranian LPG magnate sanctioned earlier this year, whose network has transported hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of Iranian petroleum products.
Sanctions were also broadened against Mahan Air and its subsidiary Yazd International Airways Company, which U.S. officials accuse of supporting the IRGC-Quds Force by transporting officers, equipment and weapons to Iran-backed militant groups in Syria and Lebanon. The managing director and vice chairman of Yazd Airways were designated alongside senior Mahan Air officials involved in the procurement of Western aircraft. Gambia-based Macka Invest Company Limited was sanctioned for helping Mahan Air acquire two A340 passenger jets, while seven additional aircraft operated by the airline were identified as blocked property.
As a result of the new measures, all US-based assets owned or controlled by sanctioned individuals and entities are frozen, and US persons are prohibited from conducting business with them. Treasury officials noted that sanctions violations can carry significant civil or criminal penalties but emphasized that the primary goal of sanctions is to change behavior.
Those designated may petition for removal from the US Specially Designated Nationals list. Indian firm on list An India-based petroleum products trader, TR6 Petro India LLP, is also among the entities facing US sanctions.
According to the State Department, the company imported more than USD 8 million worth of Iranian-origin bitumen between October 2024 and June 2025 from multiple Iranian-linked suppliers. US officials said TR6 Petro India LLP has been sanctioned for “knowingly engaging” in oil and petroleum products trade with Iran, activity Washington says helps Tehran generate revenue for its nuclear program and regional activities. The designation places the Indian firm alongside the entities targeted under the latest U.S. crackdown on Iran’s illicit oil trade.
