The United States has imposed sanctions on three shipping companies based in the United Arab Emirates for allegedly transporting petroleum or petrochemical
products from Iran.
The U.S. State Department's action targets Al Anchor Ship Management FZE, Almanac Ship Management LLC, and Sea Route Ship Management FZE. These sanctions cover a total of 11 vessels under Executive Order 13846.
In 2018, the U.S. reinstated economic sanctions on Iran after the Trump administration withdrew from the nuclear deal aimed at limiting Iran's nuclear capabilities.
Al Anchor Ship Management was sanctioned for its role as the commercial manager of the vessel Parine. The State Department stated, “Al Anchor Ship Management FZE knowingly engaged in a significant transaction for the transport of petroleum products from Iran on the PARINE in late October 2022.”
The Berenice Pride, managed by Almanac Ship Management, was also sanctioned for carrying Iranian oil products in October 2022.
Sea Route Ship Management was sanctioned as the commercial manager of the vessel Astra, accused of transporting petrochemical products from Iran in late November 2021.
Other ships associated with these companies include Arabian Energy, Baltic Horizon, Euro Fortune, Euro Viking, Harmony, Nile, Road, and Yamuna.
All properties and interests in properties of these three companies within the U.S. or held by U.S. entities have been blocked. Additionally, any entities owned 50 percent or more by these sanctioned companies are also blocked.
The State Department stated, “OFAC’s regulations generally prohibit all dealings by U.S. persons or within the United States that involve any property or interests in property of blocked or designated persons,” referring to the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control.
The reinstated sanctions from 2018 target critical sectors of Iran’s economy, including energy, shipping, shipbuilding, and finance.
Last month, OFAC announced sanctions against several shipping companies accused of transporting oil and goods for Iran, Lebanon’s Hezbollah, and Yemen’s Houthi movement. This included Oman- and UAE-based Shark International Shipping LLC and India-based Rayyan Shipping Private Ltd., among others, for their involvement with sanctioned entities and activities.
These measures highlight ongoing U.S. efforts to curb illegal trade and enforce sanctions against entities supporting Iran and its allied groups. Photo by Shipspotter Stahl, Wikimedia commons.
