US sanctions global maritime fraud network aiding Iran
The United States has imposed sanctions on a global maritime fraud network run by an Indian family for the benefit of Iran's parallel fleet, as well as a Turkish company.
Translated by Qiyas from كونا — Original source
Washington, Nov 4 (KUNA) -- The United States announced on Wednesday the imposition of sanctions on 13 individuals and a company within a “global maritime fraud network” operated by a couple residing in India to enable Iran’s “shadow fleet.” The U.S. Department of the Treasury said in a statement that, as part of the “Economic Pariah” campaign launched by Washington last August to economically isolate Iran, it sanctioned a “broad criminal network run by Sunil Kumar Sharma, who resides in India, and his wife Jaspreet Breeti Shah.” It added that the network “supported Iran’s (shadow fleet) through a system of maritime fraud, providing forged flags and certificates to sanctioned vessels involved in transporting Iranian oil, including ships operating on behalf of the Iranian military and its agents.”
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in a statement: “As we have repeatedly emphasized in the context of the (Economic Pariah) campaign, you are either with us or against us. We know where you are. We will sanction anyone who continues to support the Iranian regime, whether by land, sea, or air.”
The ministry also noted that its Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned “Fogo Ground Services,” a Turkey-based company, for continuing to provide services that support Iran’s aviation sector. It added that, in conjunction with these measures, OFAC issued a “new advisory to the maritime sector regarding the risks of sanctions associated with dealing with vessels that may be flying forged flags.”
In a separate statement, U.S. State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott said the Treasury sanctions aim to “cut off revenue sources used by the Iranian regime to fund terrorism, weapons proliferation, and its proxy networks across the Middle East.” He noted that Sunil Kumar Sharma and his wife, Jaspreet Breeti Shah, “established companies impersonating official entities to register ships or provide maritime services on behalf of countries and territories such as Guyana, Eswatini, Aruba, Mali, Mozambique, Malawi, Saint Martin, and Timor-Leste.” These companies “sold forged registrations and certificates to ships illegally transporting Iranian oil,” he stressed, adding that “most of these governments have publicly disavowed those fake registrations.”
Pigott praised governments “that have exposed these schemes” and called on ship registries, port authorities, and maritime sector workers to “verify ship registrations and prevent (shadow fleet) vessels from entering their waters and ports.” (End) R.S.R. / H.S.S.
