US Sanctions Oil Tanker For Illicit Shipment Of Iranian Commodities To Houthis

On Friday, the US Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (popularly known as OFAC) imposed sanctions on a shipping firm registered with the Marshall Islands named Vishnu Inc. and Lady Sofia, its vessel.

The sanctions target those involved in illegal shipments to China who are suspected of assisting the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Quds Force (IRGC-QF) and the Houthis.

Brian E. Nelson, the Under Secretary of the Treasury, stated that they are devoted to preventing the Houthis and the IRGC-QF from escaping sanctions and supporting terrorism. The United States will target financial institutions that endanger innocent individuals and international trade.

The sanctions result from a ship-to-ship transfer that occurred on January 31 between LADY SOFIA and MEHLE. MEHLE was recently sanctioned and allegedly used “spoofing”—manipulating the automatic identification system to mask its actual location – to hide the transfer of Iran’s goods to LADY SOFIA.

The MEHLE, disguised as another vessel and conveying a false position, unloaded the cargo near Singapore. The LADY SOFIA is currently sailing to China and is loaded with Iranian goods.

Vishnu Inc. is mainly aimed at materially aiding Sa’id al-Jamal, a financial facilitator of the Houthis previously sanctioned by the United States.

The sanctions freeze assets belonging to Vishnu Inc. in US jurisdiction. They also prohibit American citizens and firms from doing business with them. This action reflects the US dedication to disrupting financial networks that support Iranian-supported groups and help maintain stability in the Middle East.

Reference: irannewsupdate

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