The US Imposes New Sanctions on the Maritime Network of the Iranian Quds Force

The U.S. Department of the Treasurys Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) implemented new sanctions on January 12, 2024, targeting the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Qods Force (IRGC-QF) for supporting the Houthi rebels.Maritime TransportationThe sanctions target two shipping companies and four vessels that are part of a network allegedly supporting the IRGC-QF and providing financial assistance to the Houthis.

The sanctioned companies are Hong Kong-based CIELO MARINE LTD (also known as CIELO MARINE LIMITED), located at Room 6, 17th Floor, Wellborne Commercial Centre, 8 Java Road, North Point, Hong Kong; and GLOBAL TECH MARINE SERVICES INC, registered at 96960 Ajeltake Road, Ajeltake Island, Majuro, Marshall Islands, with an office on the 8th Floor of Alunco Building, Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai, UAE.

The four sanctioned vessels include:

FORTUNE GALAXY (Flag: Panama, Vessel Type: Crude Oil Tanker, IMO: 3E2520);
MEHLE (Flag: Panama, Vessel Type: Crude Oil Tanker, IMO: 3E3893);
MOLECULE (Flag: Cameroon, Vessel Type: Crude Oil Tanker, IMO: TJMC241);
SINCERE 02 (Flag: Kiribati, Vessel Type: Product Tanker, IMO: 3E4733).

These sanctions are part of U.S. government efforts to disrupt the IRGC-QF and its support network, aiming to block Irans illegal maritime activities that fund the Houthis. The U.S. government identifies the IRGC-QF and its network as involved in selling Iranian commodities to generate revenue for the Houthis and IRGC-QF.