The US Departments of State and the Treasury announced the sanctions on 21 November, targeting shipping networks accused of helping Iran raise funds through illicit oil sales. The State Department said it is adding 17 entities, individuals and vessels from countries including India, Panama and Seychelles for their roles in Iran’s petroleum and petroleum products trade. Concurrently, the Treasury Department is designating 41 additional entities, individuals, vessels and aircraft to intensify pressure on Iran’s energy sector.
According to the State Department, revenue from these activities helps Iran “support regional terrorist proxies and procure weapons systems that pose a direct threat to US forces and American allies”. The US administration vowed to keep acting against maritime operators and traders accused of transporting Iranian crude.
Indian Entities And Individuals Listed
Those placed on the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (Ofac) Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) List include Indian nationals Zair Husain Iqbal Husain Sayed and Zulfikar Hussain Rizvi Sayed. The listed companies are Maharashtra-based RN Ship Management and Pune-based TR6 Petro India.
The administration alleged that TR6 Petro India, a petroleum products trader, imported more than USD 8 million worth of bitumen of Iranian origin between October 2024 and June 2025. The State Department said the company is being sanctioned for “knowingly engaging in a significant transaction” involving Iranian petroleum products.
Allegations Against Shipping Firms With Indian Ties
The Treasury Department further detailed allegations against several shipping firms linked to Indian nationals. It claimed that Bertha Shipping, owned by Indian national Varun Pula, operates a vessel that has transported nearly four million barrels of Iranian liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) to China since July 2024.
It also alleged that Evie Lines, owned by Indian national Iyappan Raja, manages a vessel that has moved over one million barrels of Iranian LPG to China since April 2025. Vega Star Ship Management, owned by Indian national Soniya Shrestha, was accused of managing a vessel that has carried Iranian LPG to Pakistan since January 2025.
This action follows sanctions imposed in October on over 50 individuals, companies and vessels tied to Iranian crude oil and LPG exports, some of which were also linked to Indian nationals. The US maintains that these measures are part of its maximum pressure campaign on Tehran. |
