US Imposes New Sanctions on 29 Tankers

The United States has taken tough action over alleged links to Iran, imposing sanctions on 29 vessels accused of transporting Iranian oil and petroleum products. The measures also apply to the companies responsible for managing the ships.

According to a Reuters report published on Thursday (18 December), US authorities said the vessels and companies used deceptive shipping practices to move hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of Iranian petroleum and petroleum products. These ships are commonly referred to as part of Iran’s “shadow fleet”—a term used for vessels that carry sanctioned oil. Such ships are often old, have opaque ownership structures, and operate without top-tier international insurance coverage, leading many ports and oil companies to refuse them entry or service.

In a statement, John Hurley, Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, said the United States would continue its efforts to deny the Iranian government access to petroleum revenues that it uses to fund its military and weapons programs.

Iran’s mission to the United Nations did not immediately comment on the sanctions.

Washington says sanctions were imposed on Tehran due to Iran’s nuclear program and its support for various armed groups in the Middle East. Iran, however, maintains that its nuclear activities are entirely for civilian purposes.

Tensions between Washington and Tehran have escalated further in recent months. After five rounds of indirect nuclear talks failed, Israel and the United States carried out airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities during a 12-day conflict in June.

The new sanctions also include Egyptian businessman Hatem Elsaid Farid Ibrahim Sakr. US authorities allege that companies linked to him were connected to at least seven sanctioned vessels. Several shipping companies have also been targeted.

Earlier this month, the United States also took action against a tanker carrying Venezuelan oil that had previously been sanctioned for transporting Iranian crude. The tanker, named Skipper, was seized off the coast of Venezuela on 10 December, further heightening tensions between Washington and Caracas.

It is worth noting that the administration of former President Joe Biden had imposed sanctions on the tanker in 2022, when it was known as Adisa and accused of involvement in the Iranian oil trade.