The U.S. sanctioned a deputy commander of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, a Houthi militant member, firms registered in Hong Kong and the Marshall Islands, along with two ships, including one that transported $100 million in Iranian commodities to China.
Quick Read
- The U.S. imposed sanctions on a deputy commander of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, a Houthi militant, and entities in Hong Kong and the Marshall Islands, along with two ships involved in transporting Iranian commodities, particularly to China.
- The individuals sanctioned include Iranian official Mohammad Reza Falahzadeh and Houthi member Ibrahim al-Nashiri.
- The sanctions also targeted Kohana Co. Ltd., registered in Hong Kong, and Iridescent Co. Ltd., registered in the Marshall Islands, for their ownership of the Panama-flagged ship Kohana, which has transported over $100 million in Iranian commodities to Chinese businesses on behalf of Iran’s Ministry of Defense.
- Another entity, Cap Tees Shipping Co. Ltd. based in Hong Kong, was sanctioned for owning the vessel Artura, accused of transporting Iranian commodities for a network associated with the Houthi and Iranian financial facilitator Sa’id al-Jamal. The Artura reportedly concealed its identity under the name Sanan II for certain shipments.
- The U.S. Treasury highlighted the role of Iran’s Ministry of Defense in destabilizing activities, including support for Russia’s actions in Ukraine and supplying militia groups with weapons used against U.S. forces in Iraq and Syria.
- These sanctions aim to restrict the targeted individuals and companies from accessing U.S. properties, bank accounts, and from conducting business with Americans, as part of the U.S.’s broader strategy to counteract Iran and the Houthi militia’s destabilizing actions in the region and beyond.
The Associated Press has the story:
US sanctions Iranian deputy commander, Houthi member & ships that transport Iranian oil
Newslooks- WASHINGTON (AP) —
The U.S. sanctioned a deputy commander of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, a Houthi militant member, firms registered in Hong Kong and the Marshall Islands, along with two ships, including one that transported $100 million in Iranian commodities to China.
Iranian official Mohammad Reza Falahzadeh, and Houthi group member Ibrahim al-Nashiri were hit with sanctions Tuesday.
Hong Kong-registered Kohana Co. Ltd. and Marshall Islands-registered Iridescent Co. Ltd. — which own the Panama-flagged Kohana — were also designated for sanctions. The U.S. says the Kohana has shipped over $100 million in Iranian commodities to businesses in China on behalf of Iran’s Ministry of Defense.
Additionally, the U.S. sanctioned Hong Kong-based Cap Tees Shipping Co. Ltd., which owns the Artura, accused of transporting Iranian commodities for the network of previously sanctioned Houthi and Iranian financial facilitator Sa’id al-Jamal. Treasury says the Artura obfuscated its identity by using the name of a different vessel, Sanan II, to complete some of its shipments.
“Iran’s Ministry of Defense is at the forefront of Iran’s destabilizing activities, such as aiding Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine and supplying militia groups with weapons that kill U.S. forces in Iraq and Syria,” said Treasury undersecretary Brian Nelson in a statement.
The sanctions block access to U.S. property and bank accounts and prevent the targeted people and companies from doing business with Americans.
Escalation between the U.S., Iran and Houthi militia have increased after a series of maritime attacks in the Mideast linked to the Israel-Hamas war, as multiple vessels have found themselves in the crosshairs of a single Houthi assault for the first time in the conflict.
The White House last week promised to unveil new sanctions on Iran in retaliation for its arms sales that have bolstered Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and threatened a “swift” and “severe” response if Tehran moves forward with selling ballistic missiles to Moscow.
