The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has announced new sanctions against more than 30 individuals, entities, and vessels linked to Iran’s petroleum sales and its ballistic missile and advanced conventional weapons programs. The action is part of a broader effort to apply maximum economic pressure on Iran.
According to the Treasury, the latest measures target additional vessels in what is described as Iran’s “shadow fleet.” These ships transport Iranian petroleum products to foreign markets, generating revenue that the U.S. government says funds domestic repression, support for terrorist groups, and weapons development.
“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. “Under President Trump’s strong leadership, Treasury will continue to put maximum pressure on Iran to target the regime’s weapons capabilities and support for terrorism, which it has prioritized over the lives of the Iranian people.”
The sanctions are being imposed under several executive orders that authorize restrictions on key sectors of Iran’s economy as well as activities related to weapons proliferation.
OFAC specifically targeted 12 vessels and their owners or operators for transporting large quantities of Iranian petroleum products since at least 2020. These shipments have included liquified petroleum gas (LPG), high sulfur fuel oil (HSFO), condensate, naphtha, butane, propane, grey ammonia, and other petrochemicals delivered to countries such as Bangladesh, Pakistan, Türkiye, Venezuela, and various jurisdictions in East Asia.
In addition to targeting shipping operations connected with Iranian oil exports—identified by vessel names such as HOOT (Panama-flagged), OCEAN KOI (Barbados-flagged), NORTH STAR (Barbados-flagged), FELICITA (Comoros-flagged), ATEELA 1 & 2 (Iran-flagged), NIBA (Palau-flagged), LUMA (Vanuatu-flagged), REMIZ (Panama-flagged), DANUTA I (Palau-flagged), ALAA (Palau-flagged) and GAS FATE (Panama-flagged)—the sanctions also designate companies operating in this sector from Panama, Marshall Islands, British Virgin Islands, Liberia and other locations.
Beyond maritime activities, OFAC also sanctioned nine individuals and entities based in Iran, Türkiye and the United Arab Emirates involved in procuring chemicals or machinery used by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) or Ministry of Defense for missile production or unmanned aerial vehicle development. Among those designated are companies acting as intermediaries for procurement transactions totaling millions of dollars.
The action follows previous designations made under similar authorities—including past rounds that have affected hundreds of persons or assets—and supports reimposed United Nations restrictions after what U.S. officials describe as Iran's continued non-compliance with nuclear commitments.
Individuals named include employees linked with Qods Aviation Industries who reportedly traveled abroad—specifically Russia and Venezuela—to provide technical assistance regarding UAVs designed by their organization.
As a result of these measures all property belonging to sanctioned persons within U.S. jurisdiction is blocked; any entity owned 50 percent or more by one or more blocked persons is also subject to blocking requirements. U.S. regulations generally prohibit transactions involving blocked property unless authorized by OFAC.
Violations may lead to civil or criminal penalties for both U.S. citizens and foreign nationals engaged in prohibited transactions involving designated parties. Financial institutions may face secondary sanctions if they knowingly facilitate significant transactions on behalf of sanctioned entities.
OFAC emphasizes that while it has authority both to add names to sanction lists and remove them when appropriate under law—the goal remains encouraging behavioral change rather than punishment alone.
