OFAC Sanctions Hong Kong, UAE Companies Shipping Iranian Goods
The Office of Foreign Assets Control last week sanctioned two companies, in Hong Kong and the United Arab Emirates, along with their vessels, for shipping Iranian goods on behalf of a financial facilitation network for the Houthi rebels.
The designations target Hong Kong-based Cielo Marine Ltd. and UAE-based Global Tech Marine Services Inc., which have helped transport Iranian commodities on behalf of Sa’id al-Jamal, a sanctioned Houthi financier (see 2312280012). OFAC also designated the vessel Mehle, owned by Cielo, and the vessels Sincere 02, Molecule and Fortune Galaxy, owned by Global Tech Marine. The ships transported Iranian goods by hiding their origin through forged documents, the agency said.