The Trump administration expanded sanctions against the maritime network that helps Iran transport oil illegally

The government of Donald Trump intensified its economic offensive against the Iranian regime with a new round of sanctions targeting companies and individuals accused of facilitating the clandestine transport of oil and providing air services to companies linked to Tehran. The measures, announced this Wednesday by the Department of the Treasury, specifically target a business network based in India that allegedly used fraudulent maritime records to help the Iranian clandestine fleet evade international restrictions.

The new action is part of the so-called ''Economic Marginalization Operation,'' a campaign driven by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, to cut off the funding sources that allow the Islamic regime to sustain its economic and military activities and support allied organizations abroad.

''As we have said many times, under the Economic Outcast Operation, you are either with us or against us,'' Bessent stated when announcing the measures.

The U.S. offensive aims to prevent foreign companies from continuing to provide financial, commercial, and logistical services that allow Iran to maintain its oil exports despite the sanctions. In August, Bessent announced that Washington would work to exclude from the dollar-based financial system any entity that facilitated money laundering operations on behalf of the Iranian regime.

One of the main targets of the new round of sanctions is a business network based in Chandigarh, India, that allegedly traded in false flags and fraudulent maritime certifications for sanctioned vessels transporting Iranian oil intended for Tehran's military apparatus and its allies.

According to the Department of the Treasury, Suniel Kumar Sharma and his wife, Jaspreet Preeti Shahid, allegedly ran a structure dedicated to providing false documentation and maritime registration services to conceal the true identity of the vessels and allow them to operate outside of international restrictions.

U.S. authorities noted that the network had begun its activities at least in 2014, when the couple attempted to pose as the authority responsible for managing the maritime records of Dominica, a Caribbean nation.

Subsequently, in 2023, Sharma created the company Eswatini Maritime, based in Singapore, which allegedly continued to offer flag registration services for vessels transporting Iranian petroleum products.

The Department of the Treasury also accused Sharma of using his position as CEO of Oceaniek Technologies India to establish fraudulent maritime records attributed to Aruba, Nicaragua, and Sint Maarten. Those certifications were allegedly offered to sanctioned vessels transporting oil from Iran.

Washington imposed financial sanctions against Sharma, Shahid, and three of their companies: Eswatini Maritime Affairs, Oceaniek Technologies India, and Aryavart Ship Management Private Limited. Ashwani Kumar Dhiman and Ishwinder Singh, partners of the couple who served as directors of the companies, were also included on the list.

Additionally, the Treasury sanctioned six other Indian companies that would be under the control or ownership of Shahid. According to authorities, the network claimed to represent countries from nearly all continents to facilitate the Iranian oil fleet's evasion of international controls.

The use of false maritime records poses a risk that goes beyond evading economic sanctions. These practices allow vessels to operate without complying with international standards aimed at ensuring crew safety and protecting trade routes.

The Treasury specifically warned about the absence of valid protection and indemnity insurance, known as P&I. Without that coverage, an accident caused by one of these vessels could result in billions of dollars in damages with no insurer responsible for compensating the losses. The costs could ultimately fall on other commercial operators, countries, and affected economies.

The U.S. offensive also reached the aviation sector. The Department of the Treasury sanctioned Fugo Ground Services, a company based in Istanbul, Turkey, accused of continuing to provide services to Iranian airlines blacklisted by Washington, even after receiving U.S. warnings.

According to the U.S. government, the company maintained agreements with six sanctioned Iranian airlines: Iran Air Tour, Saha Airlines, Sepehran Airlines, Varesh Airlines, Taban Airlines, and Ata Airlines Company. Authorities indicated that Fugo began providing services to them just weeks after Washington announced the designations on September 8.