The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned more than two dozen individuals, companies, and vessels tied to the oil transportation network of Mohammad Hossein Shamkhani, and separately designated Iranian national and Hizballah financier Seyed Naiemaei Badroddin Moosavi and three associated companies over an oil-for-gold money laundering scheme benefiting Hizballah and Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps–Qods Force. The measures were taken under Executive Order 13902 (Iran-related sectoral authority) and Executive Order 13224, as amended (counterterrorism), and Treasury flagged the potential use of secondary sanctions against those continuing to support Tehran’s activities. Designations under E.O. 13902 cover a set of front and service firms used to manage and sustain the Shamkhani fleet, including UAE-based Oriel Group, Corplinx Consultancy LLC FZ, House of Shipping Investment FZCO, Shipstar Shipchandling LLC, Meritron DMCC, Helmatic Consultancy DMCC, and Taylor Shipping FZCO, as well as individuals linked to these entities and network operations. OFAC also targeted vessels and their associated companies, including Mozambique-flagged AURA (IMO 9274563) and its Marshall Islands-based owner Aura Lines Inc., and identified as blocked property a group of tankers linked to India-based Fleet Tanqo Private Limited and other Marshall Islands-based managers, including HORAE, VERSA, ANAYA, DAPHNE V, SILVAR, CAUVERI, BELLARIS, and ANIKA. Under E.O. 13224, as amended, Moosavi was designated for supporting Hizballah, alongside Netherlands-based A.C.S. Global BV and UAE-based ACS Trading LLC and Lotus Universal LLC for their links to Moosavi; OFAC described the scheme as smuggling Iranian oil to Venezuela in exchange for gold and other commodities, with gold moved onward to support Hizballah and the IRGC-QF. As a result of the action, all property and interests in property of the designated or blocked persons within U.S. jurisdiction, or in the possession or control of U.S. persons, are blocked and must be reported to OFAC, and the 50 percent ownership rule applies to entities owned by blocked persons. OFAC noted that U.S. persons are generally prohibited from transactions involving blocked property absent authorization or exemption, that violations can trigger civil or criminal penalties (including strict-liability civil enforcement), and that non-U.S. persons may face exposure for certain transactions involving designated parties or for causing U.S. persons to violate sanctions.
U.S. Department of the Treasury 2026-04-15
U.S. Department of the Treasury sanctions more than two dozen Shamkhani network shipping actors and targets Hizballah-linked Iran Venezuela oil-for-gold scheme
The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control sanctioned more than two dozen individuals, companies, and vessels linked to the oil transportation network of Mohammad Hossein Shamkhani, and separately designated Iranian national and Hizballah financier Seyed Naiemaei Badroddin Moosavi and three associated companies over an oil-for-gold money laundering scheme benefiting Hizballah and Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps–Qods Force. The measures, taken under Executive Orders 13902 and 13224 (as amended), block all property and interests in property of designated persons within U.S. jurisdiction and extend to entities they own 50 percent or more.