New US sanctions against Iran’s shadow fleet

The USA is tightening sanctions against Iran’s shadow fleet. 29 ships and several shipping companies are on the list. They are said to have transported large quantities of oil and oil products and thus secured important revenues for the Iranian state.

The sanctions were imposed by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) of the US Treasury Department. OFAC is targeting 29 ships in the shadow fleet and their respective management companies, which are alleged to have transported petroleum products from Iran worth several hundred million US dollars. The sanctions also target Egyptian businessman Hatem Elsaid Farid Ibrahim Sakr, whose company is linked to seven of the 29 shadow fleet vessels, as well as several shipping companies.

The aim of the United States is reportedly not to allow Iran to acquire a nuclear weapon. The Treasury Department wants to continue to deprive the regime of the oil revenues with which it finances its military and weapons-related programs.

Trump’s administration sanctions 180 ships

Since Donald Trump took office, the US government has sanctioned more than 180 ships responsible for transporting Iranian oil and petroleum products.

The measure adopted yesterday covers vessels used to transport Iranian crude oil and various Iranian petroleum products, including heavy fuel oil, bitumen, naphtha and condensate. According to OFAC, the vessels belong to a group of companies based in different jurisdictions, most of which were established for the sole purpose of owning and managing the respective vessels.

Egyptian shipowner on the list

According to OFAC, Hatem Elsaid Farid Ibrahim Sakr, an Egyptian shipowner based in the United Arab Emirates, owns and operates several companies, including Red Sea Ship Management LLC and High Seas Petroleum LLC, formerly known as Petrofleet Energy Trading LLC. These companies were responsible for transporting large quantities of Iranian petroleum products in the Persian Gulf, including in coordination with Sahara Thunder, a front company assigned to the Iranian Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics Services, according to the U.S. agency.

Red Sea Ship Management LLC operates and manages the Palau-flagged product tankers SKYLIGHT (IMO 9330020), KHADIGA (IMO 9321469) and INTAN PREMIER (IMO 9358802), each of which is believed to have transported Iranian petroleum products such as naphtha, bitumen and heavy fuel oil. The SKYLIGHT, previously known as AL MOUSTAFA, was acquired by Sakr in June 2023. Immediately after the acquisition, the vessel was used for a ship-to-ship transfer of Iranian condensate in the interest of Sahara Thunder, OFAC said.

Hatem Elsaid Farid Ibrahim Sakr is designated under Executive Order 13902 for his activities in the petroleum sector of the Iranian economy. Red Sea Ship Management LLC and High Seas Petroleum LLC are designated pursuant to Executive Order 13902 because they are owned or controlled by, or acted on behalf of, Sakr. SKYLIGHT, KHADIGA and INTAN PREMIER are identified as blocked property in which Red Sea Ship Management LLC holds an interest.

Sakr’s companies reportedly transferred the management of several vessels to UAE-based Qatrat Alnada Almasi Ship Management L.L.C., including at least three vessels that carried Iranian petroleum products. The Qatrat Alnada-operated vessels SEA WISE (IMO 9224570), SEAMULL (IMO 9204776) and SEA ROCK (IMO 9140451), all Palau-flagged, are alleged to have transported Iranian petroleum products, including naphtha and gasoil, on multiple occasions. Qatrat Alnada also operates and manages the Palau-flagged tanker SEA CITRINE VI (IMO 9207273). All four ships called at ports in Yemen controlled by the Huthi, according to the US authorities.

Qatrat Alnada Almasi Ship Management L.L.C. is designated under Executive Order 13902 for its activities in the petroleum sector of the Iranian economy. SEA WISE, SEAMULL, SEA ROCK, and SEA CITRINE VI are identified as blocked property in which Qatrat Alnada Almasi Ship Management L.L.C. holds an interest.

OFAC also listed the following vessels yesterday with the following justifications:

• Palau-flagged vessels NEBULA DRIFT (IMO 9233973) and AETHER SAIL (IMO 9277371), and Panama-flagged vessels TIDAL RHYTHM (IMO 9297101) and VOYAGER HAVEN (IMO 9271896), all operated and managed by UAE-based Phoenix Ship Management FZE, transported several hundred thousand barrels of Iranian petroleum products in 2025, including condensate, bitumen and naphtha.
• The Palau-flagged vessel ARIHANT (IMO 9464156), owned, operated and managed by Panama-based Arihant Shipping Inc. has transported several hundred thousand barrels of Iranian heavy fuel oil and bitumen within the Persian Gulf since July 2025.
• The Palau-flagged vessels KURDOS (IMO 9236731), KURDOS II (IMO 9453729) and KURDOS III (IMO 9380570), owned, operated and managed by Panama-based Kurdos Shipping Inc. have transported several hundred thousand barrels of Iranian heavy fuel oil and bitumen in the Persian Gulf since the beginning of 2025.
• The Panama-flagged vessel KASSIA (IMO 9409986), owned and operated by Adonis Shipping Inc. registered in the Marshall Islands, has transported more than two dozen cargoes of Iranian petroleum products, including heavy fuel oil, since 2024.
• The Cook Islands-flagged vessel MAJESTY (IMO 9430715), owned by Marshall Islands-registered Concord Shipping Inc. has carried nearly a dozen shipments of Iranian petroleum products since early 2025.
• The Barbados-flagged vessel FLORA DOLCE (IMO 9258595), owned and managed by India-based Rukbat Marine Services Co. has transported several million barrels of Iranian heavy fuel oil since April 2025.
• The Jamaican-flagged vessel DIANA (IMO 9255945), owned and operated by British Virgin Islands-based Aleah Shipping Inc. has transported several million barrels of Iranian heavy fuel oil since May 2025.
• The Cook Islands-flagged vessel J M A (IMO 9246487), owned and operated by Panama-based J M A Shipping Inc. has transported several hundred thousand barrels of Iranian heavy fuel oil since August 2021.
• The Cook Islands flagged vessel S M A (IMO 9273002), owned and operated by Panama-based S M A Shipping Inc. has transported several hundred thousand barrels of Iranian bitumen since June 2021.
• The Cook Islands flagged vessel M K A (IMO 9269403), owned, operated and managed by M K A Shipping Inc. registered in the Marshall Islands, has transported several hundred thousand barrels of Iranian bitumen, heavy fuel oil and naphtha since January 2024. Previously, M K A transported naphtha and gasoil of Russian origin. The vessel was previously operated and managed by the sanctioned Indo Gulf Ship Management LLC while carrying Iranian oil.
• The Panama-flagged vessel AUROURA (IMO 9262912), owned and operated by India-based Golden Gate Ship Management, has transported several million barrels of Iranian petroleum products, including naphtha and condensate.
• The Barbados-flagged vessel RAMYA (IMO 9363182), operated and managed by India-based Darya Shipping Private Limited, has transported more than one hundred thousand barrels of Iranian petroleum products, including naphtha, since September 2025.
• The Panama-flagged vessel FOSHAN (IMO 9404572), owned and operated by Sinostar Marine Group Limited, registered in the Marshall Islands, has transported several hundred thousand barrels of Iranian heavy fuel oil and lubricants since June 2025.
• The Palau-flagged vessel HEMERA (IMO 9263954), owned and operated by Hemera Lines Inc. registered in the Marshall Islands, has transported more than 150,000 barrels of bitumen since February 2025.
• The Panama-flagged vessel NOMIKI (IMO 9242443), owned and managed by Agape Shipping Inc. registered in the Marshall Islands, has transported several million barrels of Iranian heavy fuel oil in 2025.
• The Cook Islands-flagged vessel MARUTI (IMO 9546710), owned and operated by Marshall Islands-registered Maruti Shipping Inc. transported several hundred thousand barrels of Iranian naphtha in 2025.
• The vessel GOLDEN EAGLE (IMO 9255684) with unknown flag, owned and operated by Liberia-based Everest Sea Navigation SA, transported several million barrels of Iranian crude oil in 2025.