By Faisal Abu Bakr | 2025-07-14

With several new rounds of sanctions, the United States continues to disrupt the Iranian regime's attempts to acquire sensitive defense industry equipment and to engage in the sale of oil to fund its proxies, the Houthis, in Yemen.

Sanctions rolled out July 3 designate companies and shadow fleet vessels engaged in the sale and transport of Iranian petroleum.

"These vessel management companies and their associated tankers have collectively transported millions of barrels of Iranian crude oil and petroleum products," the US State Department said.

The sanctioned companies include Kaveh Methanol Company, Aria Sina Control International Technical Inspection Co., Asian Sea Angel Shipping Co., and Sai Saburai Consulting Services, which operated two sanctioned tankers.

The vessels, Bateleur and Neel, have routinely engaged in "dark activity," operating with their automatic identification system (AIS) location and identity beacon turned off to obscure the Iranian origin of their cargoes.

Also sanctioned are Breeze Marine Asset Management, commercial manager of crude oil tanker Artemis III, which has loaded and transported over 14 million barrels of Iranian crude; and Isle Innovation Inc., which manages the Rieveria I.

Rieveria I has loaded and transported Iranian crude in three dangerous ship-to-ship transfers with tankers sanctioned for moving Iranian crude oil, while conducting dark activity, the State Department said.

US sanctions on June 20 targeted eight entities, one vessel and one individual for their alleged role in supplying sensitive defense industry equipment to Iran.

The United States separately imposed counterterrorism-related sanctions on 12 entities and two vessels suspected engaging in the illicit trade and supply of oil in support of the Houthis.

Supply chain disruption

The Iranian regime has become "a state sponsor of terrorism, particularly through its proxies," said Arab Democratic Center research projects director Abdul Qader al-Kharraz.

"The sanctions target Iran's capabilities, including those related to military institutions and the military aspect," he told Al-Fassel, as well as its energy sector, nuclear capabilities and money laundering activities.

The June 20 US sanctions target entities "linked to oil smuggling, money laundering, and the smuggling of military equipment," he said, noting that these activities "pose a threat to US national security and global security."

By censuring those implicated in the illicit trade of oil for the benefit of the Houthis, the United States seeks "to disrupt Iran's supply chain," Ahmed said.

"These entities operate a complex network to finance the Houthis by importing Iranian oil and selling it on the black market at high prices," he said.

They launder money through front companies to finance the Houthis' activities and "the manufacture of drones and missiles that have threatened regional and global security through their attacks in the Red Sea."