Treasury Intensifies Pressure on Shamkhani’s Expansive Illicit Shipping Empire

Washington: Today, the Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) is intensifying its efforts to disrupt and degrade the illicit shipping and sanctions evasion network of Mohammad Hossein Shamkhani. This action is part of Treasury's ongoing efforts to ramp up economic pressure on the Iranian regime after it resumed destabilizing attacks in the Strait of Hormuz. The Shamkhani network remains a major force behind Iran's oil exports and has expanded into global containerized shipping and commodities trading. According to U.S. Department of the Treasury, today's action includes more than 50 individuals, entities, and vessels that enable Shamkhani and the Iranian regime to continue profiting while the Iranian people remain under economic strain imposed by their government. This action builds on OFAC's previous designation actions targeting the Shamkhani network, with Treasury now having sanctioned more than 200 individuals, entities, and vessels under Shamkhani's patronage. Today's meas ures are being taken pursuant to Executive Order 13902, which authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Secretary of State, to impose sanctions on key sectors of Iran's economy. This reflects OFAC's ongoing collaboration with the Treasury's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) as it continues to target Iranian oil sales under the President's National Security Presidential Memorandum 2. Iranian nationals Hossein Ghorbani Zahed and Mohammad Reza Rahbar Madani, both holding Dominica passports, have been identified as primary financiers for Shamkhani's network. They provide exchange house services, including access to foreign currency and shell companies outside of Iran. Additionally, Ali Rakhbarmadani, an Iranian and Russian dual national, is linked to multiple companies within the network. Others involved include Martin Austin Kaalund and Alessandra Ronco, who have played significant roles in the network's shipping oversight operations. Several entities, including Sea Lead Sh ipping PTE. Ltd. and its subsidiaries, are key players in the Shamkhani network's containerized shipping operations. These entities manage a fleet of vessels carrying goods globally, including to Iran-backed foreign terrorist organizations. OFAC has sanctioned numerous vessels and associated companies that operate as part of the Shamkhani shipping networks. As a result of today's action, all property and interests in property of the designated or blocked persons within U.S. jurisdiction are blocked and must be reported to OFAC. The sanctions prohibit all transactions by U.S. persons or within the United States involving any property of designated persons. Violations may result in civil or criminal penalties, with non-U.S. persons also prohibited from causing U.S. persons to violate sanctions. The ultimate goal of these sanctions is not punitive but to encourage a change in behavior. For information on seeking removal from an OFAC list, individuals can refer to OFAC's guidance on Filing a Petition for Remova l.