Washington imposes sanctions on Indian companies for alleged maritime fraud in support of Iran
In a statement, the Treasury Department said the network helped Iranian ships sail under false flags and obtain fraudulent maritime certifications.
U.S. Department of the Treasury
On Wednesday, Washington imposed sanctions against what it described as a "vast criminal network" led by two Indian citizens that was assisting Iran's clandestine fleet of oil tankers commit maritime fraud.
In a statement, the Treasury Department asserted that the network helped Iranian ships sail under false flags and obtain fraudulent maritime certifications.
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This measure is the latest in an increasingly stringent series of U.S. sanctions against Iran since August, when Washington announced that it would seek to "economically strangle" the country in parallel with its military campaign.
"As we have said many times, under the Operation Economic Marginalization, you're either with us or against us," declared Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who has in the past threatened sanctions against any country or company that aids Iran, regardless of its relationship with Washington.
"We know where they are, and we will sanction those who continue to support the Iranian regime, whether by land, sea, or air."
The sanctions announced today target Indian citizens Suniel Kumar Sharma and his wife, Jaspreet Preeti Shahid, for operating a large-scale maritime fraud network from their base in Chandigarh.
"Sharma and Shahid, who claim to represent nations on nearly every continent—from Guyana to Eswatini and Laos—have allowed the clandestine Iranian fleet… to circumvent international restrictions on its operations," the Treasury stated in a press release cited by AFP.
Others sanctioned by the Treasury
The sanctions also targeted two other Indian citizens and several companies that, according to the Treasury, were part of the criminal network.
The measure also led Washington to sanction Fugo Ground Services Inc., based in Turkey, for allegedly continuing to provide services to the Iranian aviation sector, which the United States has sought to shut down.
Earlier this month, the United States imposed sanctions against "the remnants of Iran's clandestine fleet" of tankers used to transport petroleum products to foreign markets, affecting 17 vessels.
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