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, the Iranian regime survives on deception, and the Shamkhani network is one of its most profitable engines, said Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent. Treasury is shutting down the financial infrastructure that allows the regime to continue its threats to U.S. national security and global shipping.
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 burdened under the economic yoke imposed by their government. Today's action builds on OFAC's April 2026 and July 2025 designation actions targeting the Shamkhani network, and Treasury has now sanctioned more than 200 individuals, entities, and vessels operating under Shamkhani's patronage.
Today's action is being taken pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 13902, which provides authority to the Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Secretary of State, to identify and impose sanctions on key sectors of Iran's economy. Today's action also reflects OFAC's ongoing close collaboration with Treasury's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN). Treasury continues to target Iranian oil sales under the President's National Security Presidential Memorandum 2 (NSPM-2).
Key financial and logistics associates, including Hossein Ghorbani Zahed and Mohammad Reza Rahbar Madani, have played critical roles in financing the Shamkhani network, providing exchange house services, and facilitating trade in sanctioned goods. Others, like Ali Rakhbarmadani and Martin Austin Kaalund, have been integral to the network's shipping operations.
The network's reach extends beyond oil, with companies like Sea Lead Shipping PTE. Ltd. and We Freight Shipping LLC managing containerized shipping operations that blend licit and illicit trade. OFAC is sanctioning several vessels and companies tied to the Shamkhani network, further isolating its global operations.
As a result of today's actions, all U.S.-based property and interests of the designated entities and individuals are blocked. U.S. persons are prohibited from engaging in transactions with these entities unless authorized by OFAC. Violations of these sanctions could result in civil or criminal penalties. OFAC's enforcement guidelines and procedures for removal from sanction lists are available for those seeking more information.