The U.S. Department of the Treasury announced on Friday, June 5 an expansion of sanctions targeting Iran-related networks, adding four individuals, 12 companies, and six liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) transport vessels to the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) “Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List.”
According to a Treasury Department statement, the individuals sanctioned include Iranian businessmen Mehrdad Geramian Nik and Romina Geramian Nik, as well as Turkish national Mohammad Shakol Mihandoust and Afghan businessman Sarbaz Abdul Zada.
The Treasury also blacklisted 12 companies linked to these individuals, spanning multiple countries and regions including Iran, the United Arab Emirates, the Marshall Islands, Liberia, and China. Among them, Shanghai Qianye Energy Co., Ltd. in China was also added to the sanctions list, with the U.S. Treasury stating that the company is affiliated with Mihandoust.
In addition, six LPG transport vessels were sanctioned, including AMIR GAS, GAS LAGOON, GAZ GMS, GLENDALE, MD 23, and MILE. These ships sail under the flags of Panama, Palau, and Saint Kitts and Nevis.
The Treasury stated that all listed individuals, companies, and vessels are subject to U.S. sanctions restrictions, and some may also face “secondary sanctions.” This means that foreign companies and financial institutions engaging in transactions with them could also face U.S. sanctions.
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On the same day, the Treasury also updated the designation status of two Brazilian criminal organizations—“Red Command” (Comando Vermelho) and “First Capital Command” (Primeiro Comando da Capital, PCC)—adding them as “Foreign Terrorist Organizations.”
The action is part of the United States’ ongoing effort to crack down on Iran’s energy, financial, and shipping networks. In recent months, the U.S. has continuously expanded sanctions on Iran’s oil, gas, and maritime systems, while intensifying efforts to pursue third-country companies and individuals that help Iran evade sanctions.
