Three India-Based mostly Companies Amongst Dozen Firms Hit With US Sanctions For Commerce Ties With Iran

America on Thursday imposed sanctions on over a dozen corporations, people and vessels, together with three from India, for facilitating illicit commerce and UAV transfers on behalf of the Iranian army. The US authorities says that these corporations have performed a central position in facilitating and financing the clandestine sale of Iranian unmanned aerial autos (UAVs) to Russia’s warfare in Ukraine.

“America is right this moment imposing sanctions on 16 entities and eight people, in addition to figuring out as blocked property 5 vessels and one plane, which have facilitated illicit commerce and the sale of unmanned aerial autos (UAVs) in assist of Iran’s Ministry of Protection and Armed Forces Logistics (MODAFL) and the regime’s UAV growth and procurement,” the US State Division mentioned in an announcement.

Three India-based corporations

Among the many 16 entities, the three India-based corporations slapped with sanctions for supporting Sahara Thunder are Zen Delivery, Port India Personal Restricted, and Sea Artwork Ship Administration (OPC) Personal Restricted. “Amongst right this moment’s targets is Sahara Thunder, a key entrance firm for MODAFL’s illicit financing and a central participant in Iran’s design, growth, manufacture, and sale of hundreds of UAVs, lots of which have finally been transferred to Russia to be used in its warfare towards Ukraine,” the State Division mentioned.

Iranian army entity Sahara Thunder depends on an enormous delivery community concerned within the sale and cargo of Iranian commodities on behalf of Iran’s Ministry of Defence and Armed Forces Logistics (MODAFL) to a number of jurisdictions together with the Folks’s Republic of China (PRC), Russia, and Venezuela, the US Treasury Division assertion mentioned.

“Sahara Thunder has entered into time-charter contracts with India-based Zen Delivery and Port India Personal Restricted for the Cook dinner Islands-flagged vessel CHEM (IMO 9240914), which is managed and operated by UAE-based Protected Seas Ship Administration FZE,” it mentioned. “Sahara Thunder has used the CHEM to conduct a number of shipments of commodities since 2022. Iran-based Arsang Protected Buying and selling Co. has supplied ship administration companies in assist of a number of Sahara Thunder-related shipments, together with these by the CHEM,” the Treasury mentioned.

Iran-based Asia Marine Crown Company has served because the port agent in Bandar Abbas, Iran supporting a number of Sahara Thunder shipments, in line with the US Treasury Division.  “India-based Sea Artwork Ship Administration (OPC) Personal Restricted and UAE-based firm Trans Gulf Company LLC have labored collectively to offer ship administration companies in assist of Sahara Thunder. The UAE and Iran-based Coral Buying and selling EST. have bought Iranian commodities from Sahara Thunder,” it mentioned.

“Iran’s Ministry of Defence continues to destabilise the area and world with its assist to Russia’s warfare in Ukraine, unprecedented assault on Israel, and proliferation of UAVs and different harmful army {hardware} to terrorist proxies,” mentioned Beneath Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Monetary Intelligence Brian E. Nelson. “America, in shut coordination with our British and Canadian companions, will proceed to make use of all means out there to fight those that would finance Iran’s destabilising actions,” he mentioned.

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