U.S. Sanctions 7 Indian Firms for Iran Oil Trade
Washington: The United States has imposed sanctions on seven Indian companies among 20 entities worldwide for their involvement in Iran’s petroleum and petrochemical trade, under Executive Order (E.O.) 13846. The Department of State also identified 10 vessels as blocked property, targeting Iran’s illicit oil export network, known as its shadow fleet, which facilitates exports through deceptive shipping practices. These actions aim to disrupt the revenue Iran uses to fund destabilising activities, including support for terrorism and its nuclear programme.
The Indian firms designated are ENSA Ship Management Private Limited, Alchemical Solutions Private Limited, Kanchan Polymers, Ramniklal S. Gosalia and Company, Jupiter Dye Chem Private Limited, Global Industrial Chemicals Limited, and Persistent Petrochem Private Limited. ENSA Ship Management, based in Mumbai, was cited for managing the vessel TIFANI (IMO 9273337), which loaded Iranian petroleum in ship-to-ship (STS) transfers with U.S.-designated Iranian tankers near Singapore’s Eastern Outer Port Limit (EOPL) in 2024, employing deceptive “dark activity” by disabling tracking systems. Alchemical Solutions, also Mumbai-based, imported $84 million in Iranian petrochemical products, including polyethylene, from multiple companies between January and December 2024. Kanchan Polymers, based in Chennai, purchased $1.3 million in Iranian-origin polyethylene from UAE-based Tanais Way General Trading L.L.C. between February and July 2024. Ramniklal S. Gosalia and Company imported $22 million in Iranian petrochemicals, including methanol and toluene, from January 2024 to January 2025. Jupiter Dye Chem Private Limited purchased $49 million in Iranian toluene during the same period. Global Industrial Chemicals Limited imported $51 million in Iranian methanol from July 2024 to January 2025. Persistent Petrochem Private Limited imported $14 million in Iranian petrochemicals, including methanol, from UAE-based Bab Al Barsha Trading L.L.C. between October 2024 and December 2024.
Other sanctioned entities include UAE-based ETIHAD Engineering and Marine Services FZC, which managed vessels SEATURBO (IMO 9204764), TRUGEN (IMO 9200861), SEABASS (IMO 9251640), SEAHAKER (IMO 9255488), ZEAL (IMO 9486895), MOLLY (IMO 9531375), SOFIA (IMO 9531387), and COURAGE 7 (IMO 9553957), which collectively transported Iranian petroleum products multiple times since May 2023. SEATURBO specifically loaded Iranian reformate in Iran in September 2022. Iran-based Faradanesh Technical Inspection Services Company (FIS) acted as a cargo surveyor for Iranian reformate loaded in September 2022, providing services to U.S.-designated Iranian energy companies like Iran Petrochemical Commercial Company. UAE-based Arzo Altehara for Goods Wholesalers Co. L.L.C. purchased 10,000 metric tons of fuel oil from the U.S.-designated National Iranian Oil Company between April and May 2024. China-based Peace Worth Shipping Co., Limited managed TONDA SOURCE (IMO 9127667), which loaded Iranian methanol in October 2022 and conducted multiple loadings of Iranian petrochemicals from 2022 to 2024, often during dark activity. Marshall Islands-based Avani Lines Inc. owned a vessel that transported Iranian crude oil in six voyages, often via STS transfers with sanctioned tankers, discharging in China. China-based Zhoushan Jinrun Petroleum Transfer Co., Ltd. facilitated port calls for U.S.-designated tankers VIOLA (IMO 9254915) and RANI (IMO 9250907) and received six shipments of Iranian crude in 2025.
The Treasury Department concurrently designated over 115 targets in the shipping network of Mohammad Hossein Shamkhani, son of Ali Shamkhani, a political advisor to Iran’s Supreme Leader, under E.O. 13902. Hossein’s network, involving UAE-based firms like Marvise SMC DMCC, Armada Global Shipping DMCC, Koban Shipping L.L.C., Crios Shipping L.L.C., and Fractal Marine DMCC, manages a fleet of tankers and containerships transporting Iranian and Russian oil, generating billions in profits. Vessels like URANUS (IMO 9248485) and OMNI (IMO 9400980) were blocked for their ties to Hossein. The network uses front companies, such as Marshall Islands-based Oka Shipping Inc. and Singapore-based Draco Buren Shipping PTE. Ltd., to obscure ownership. Hossein, using aliases like “Hector” and “Hugo Hayek,” oversees operations from Tehran, leveraging his father’s influence to secure preferential port access in Iran.
Additional designations include Türkiye-based Fiva Plastik Anonim Sirketi, which imported $6.8 million in Iranian petrochemicals, including from UAE-based Triolin Trade FZCO, between January and September 2024, sourced from U.S.-designated Iranian companies like Jam Petrochemical Company, Marun Petrochemical Company, and Shazand Petrochemical Company. Triolin Trade FZCO exported $800,000 in Iranian polyethylene to Fiva Plastik. Türkiye-based Elm Kimya Ithalat Ihracat Sanayi Ve Ticaret Anonim Sirketi imported $3 million in Iranian petrochemicals from January to September 2024. Türkiye-based Lavinya Plast Kimyevi Maddeler Ve Petrol Urunleri Nakliye Sanayi Ic Ve Dis Ticaret Anonim Sirketi purchased $5 million in Iranian petrochemicals from multiple companies, including Indonesia-based PT. Oriental Commerce Garden, between January and August 2024. PT. Oriental exported $3.4 million in Iranian polyethylene to Lavinya Plast. UAE-based firms Milavous Group Ltd., Nest Wise Petroleum L.L.C., and Ocean Leonid Investments Ltd. were designated for laundering funds from Iranian oil sales. Individuals such as Alireza Derakhshan, Elisabetta Cadeddu, and Yves Leon Agnes Demasure were sanctioned for their roles in Hossein’s network.
All property and interests in property of the designated entities and individuals in the United States or in possession or control of U.S. persons are blocked and must be reported to the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). Entities and individuals owned 50 per cent or more by blocked persons are also blocked. All transactions by U.S. persons or within the United States involving property of designated persons are prohibited unless authorised by a general or specific license issued by OFAC or exempt. These prohibitions include contributions or provisions of funds, goods, or services to or from blocked persons. OFAC issued General License R, authorising limited safety and environmental transactions involving the sanctioned parties. Violations may result in civil or criminal penalties. OFAC emphasised that the goal of sanctions is to bring about a positive change in behaviour, not to punish. Petitions for removal from the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons (SDN) List may be sent to OFAC.Reconsideration@treasury.gov, and petitioners may refer to the Department of State’s Delisting Guidance page.
– global bihari bureau
