The US Treasury Department imposed sanctions on nine shipping companies and nine vessels accused of facilitating Iranian oil exports, targeting entities registered across six countries including the United Arab Emirates and Oman, the Office of Foreign Assets Control announced on January 23.

The sanctions target what Washington describes as shadow fleet operations used to circumvent existing restrictions on Iranian petroleum exports. Entities on the SDN list face asset freezes and prohibition from conducting transactions with US persons or through the American financial system.

OFAC added the companies and vessels to its Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List under Iran-related executive order 13902. The designated entities include Horizon Harvest Shipping LLC based in Dubai, Black Stone Oil and Gas operating from Muscat, and Aayat Ship Management Private Limited registered in Rajasthan, India.

The sanctioned vessels comprise LPG tankers, crude oil tankers and chemical tankers flying flags of convenience from Palau, Comoros and Panama. Notable additions include the Al Diab II, a 1996-built LPG tanker linked to Black Stone Oil and Gas, and the Cesaria, a crude oil tanker connected to Seychelles-registered Galeran Service Corp.

Three Marshall Islands-registered companies featured on the updated list: Longevity Shipping Limited, Odyssey Marine Inc and Trade Bridge Global Inc. The Treasury also designated Liberia-registered Benoil Shipping Inc, established in 2025.

"GALERAN SERVICE CORP, Suite 10, 3rd Floor, La Ciotat, Mont Fleuri, Mahe Island, Seychelles; Organization Established Date 2025; Identification Number IMO 0189512 [IRAN-EO13902].

HORIZON HARVEST SHIPPING LLC (Arabic: هورايزون هارفيست للشحن ذ م م), Office No 103, Al Garhoud, Deira, Dubai, United Arab Emirates; Organization Established Date 30 Nov 2023; Identification Number IMO 6457931; License 1270880 (United Arab Emirates) [IRAN-EO13902].

LONGEVITY SHIPPING LIMITED, Trust Company Complex, Ajeltake Road, Ajeltake Island, Majuro 96960, Marshall Islands; Organization Established Date 16 Jan 2025; Identification Number IMO 0241856; Registration Number 129722 (Marshall Islands) [IRAN-EO13902]."

OFAC simultaneously issued General License T, authorising limited safety and environmental transactions involving the newly sanctioned entities. The licence permits cargo offloading operations from blocked vessels whilst maintaining broader restrictions on commercial dealings.