Sanctions imposed on over a dozen companies by the US, including 3 from India, for trading with Iran.

The US Department of Treasury has identified companies, individuals, and vessels that have been involved in facilitating and financing the covert sale of Iranian unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to Russia’s war effort in Ukraine. The main front company overseeing Iran’s commercial activities in support of these efforts is Sahara Thunder. Three India-based companies – Zen Shipping, Port India Private Limited, and Sea Art Ship Management (OPC) Private Limited – have been sanctioned for supporting Sahara Thunder.

Sahara Thunder, an Iranian military entity, relies on a vast shipping network for the sale and shipment of Iranian commodities on behalf of Iran’s Ministry of Defence and Armed Forces Logistics (MODAFL) to multiple jurisdictions including the People’s Republic of China (PRC), Russia, and Venezuela, according to the Treasury. Sahara Thunder has entered into time-charter contracts with India-based Zen Shipping and Port India Private Limited for the Cook Islands-flagged vessel CHEM (IMO 9240914), managed and operated by UAE-based Safe Seas Ship Management FZE. The CHEM has been used for multiple commodity shipments since 2022, with ship management services provided by Iran-based Arsang Safe Trading Co. and the port agent in Bandar Abbas, Iran being Iran-based Asia Marine Crown Agency.

Additionally, India-based Sea Art Ship Management (OPC) Private Limited and UAE-based company Trans Gulf Agency LLC have collaborated to provide ship management services in support of Sahara Thunder, with Iranian and UAE-based companies purchasing Iranian commodities from Sahara Thunder. Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Brian E. Nelson stated that Iran’s Ministry of Defence’s support to Russia’s war in Ukraine, attack on Israel, and proliferation of UAVs and other military hardware to terrorist proxies is destabilizing the region and the world. He emphasized the commitment of the United States, in coordination with British and Canadian partners, to use all available means to combat those financing Iran’s destabilizing activities.

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