Washington: The United States has imposed sanctions on a shipping empire managed by the son of a prominent political advisor to Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The sanctions target companies and vessels operated by Mohammad Hossein Shamkhani, the son of Ali Shamkhani, who has been under US sanctions since 2020.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the Treasury Department stated that Hossein Shamkhani manages a fleet of more than 50 tankers and container ships. These vessels transport Iranian and Russian oil and petroleum products, generating tens of billions of dollars in profits. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent emphasized that the Shamkhani family’s shipping operations demonstrate how Iranian regime elites use their positions to accumulate wealth and support the regime’s activities.
The Treasury Department announced sanctions on over 115 individuals, corporate entities, and vessels, including companies in Hong Kong, Singapore, Switzerland, the United Arab Emirates, and other countries. This action represents the largest set of sanctions issued since the Trump Administration’s maximum pressure campaign on Iran began.
The network led by Hossein Shamkhani reportedly comprises a vast fleet of vessels, ship management firms, and front companies. These entities are allegedly involved in laundering billions in profits from the global sale of Iranian and Russian crude oil and other petroleum products, primarily to buyers in China.
In a related move, the State Department imposed sanctions on 20 entities, including companies in India, Indonesia, Turkey, and the UAE, for their involvement in the Iranian petroleum trade, as well as on 10 vessels.
The sanctions follow more than a month after US attacks on Iran’s nuclear program, targeting facilities at Fordo, Isfahan, and Natanz. State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce stated that the sanctions aim to disrupt Iran’s ability to fund destabilizing activities, including its nuclear program, support for terrorist groups, and oppression of its own people. Bruce reiterated President Trump’s warning that any entity purchasing Iranian oil risks US sanctions and will be barred from conducting business with the United States.
The US government intends to maintain maximum pressure on Tehran until it agrees to a deal promoting regional peace and stability and abandons its nuclear weapon aspirations.