Washington Imposes Sanctions on Iranian Shipping Network, Targeting Over 50 Individuals, Entities, and a Vessel

The United States has imposed sanctions on more than 50 individuals, entities, and a vessel linked to an Iranian shipping network, which Washington says is involved in “illegal” activities and sanctions evasion.

In a statement on Tuesday, the U.S. Department of Treasury said that the Office of Foreign Assets Control has intensified its efforts to disrupt and undermine the shipping and sanctions evasion network run by Mohammad Hossein Shamkhani, as part of Washington’s push to increase economic pressure on the Iranian regime following the resumption of its attacks in the Strait of Hormuz.

The ministry added that Shamkhani’s network remains one of the key supporters of Iranian oil exports, and has expanded its activities to include global container shipping and commodity trade.

It clarified that the new sanctions target more than 50 individuals, entities, and a vessel, which it said enabled Shamkhani and the Iranian regime to continue generating profits.

For his part, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said, “The Iranian regime relies on deception, and Shamkhani’s network is one of its most profitable engines,” emphasizing that his department is working to weaken the financial infrastructure that allows Tehran to continue threatening U.S. national security and global shipping movements.

Earlier, U.S. President Donald Trump signed a memorandum in early February of last year to reinstate the “maximum pressure” policy against Iran, a policy adopted by his administration during his first term that included tightening economic pressures on Tehran and withdrawing from the nuclear deal.