The United States has imposed sanctions on several entities and individuals, including a deputy commander of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and a member of the Houthi militant group. Among those targeted are firms registered in Hong Kong and the Marshall Islands, as well as two ships involved in transporting Iranian commodities.
Iranian official Mohammad Reza Falahzadeh and Houthi group member Ibrahim al-Nashiri were both hit with sanctions. The Hong Kong-registered Kohana Co. Ltd. and Marshall Islands-registered Iridescent Co. Ltd., which own the Panama-flagged vessel Kohana, were also designated for sanctions. The U.S. alleges that the Kohana has transported over $100 million in Iranian commodities to businesses in China on behalf of Iran’s Ministry of Defense.
In addition, the U.S. sanctioned Hong Kong-based Cap Tees Shipping Co. Ltd., the owner of the vessel Artura, which is accused of transporting Iranian commodities for the network of previously sanctioned Houthi and Iranian financial facilitator Sa’id al-Jamal. The Treasury Department stated that the Artura obscured its identity by using the name of a different vessel, Sanan II, for some of its shipments.
Treasury undersecretary Brian Nelson emphasized that Iran’s Ministry of Defense plays a significant role in destabilizing activities, such as supporting Russia’s actions in Ukraine and supplying weapons to militia groups that target U.S. forces in Iraq and Syria. The sanctions imposed block access to U.S. property and bank accounts and prohibit the targeted individuals and companies from engaging in business with Americans.
Tensions between the U.S., Iran, and the Houthi militia have escalated following a series of maritime attacks in the Middle East linked to the Israel-Hamas conflict. Multiple vessels have come under fire in a single Houthi assault for the first time during the conflict.
Last week, the White House pledged to introduce new sanctions on Iran in response to its arms sales that have supported Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The U.S. warned of a swift and severe reaction if Iran proceeds with selling ballistic missiles to Moscow.
