The United States on Thursday imposed a new round of sanctions accusing individuals and entities of helping Iran export oil and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). A release by the US department of the treasury’s office of foreign assets control (OFAC) announced sanctions on over 50 individuals, companies and vessels for their alleged roles.According to an ANI report, this list also included three Indian nationals. The department announced the move as a part of dismantling “key elements of Iran’s energy export machine.”
“These actors have collectively enabled the export of billions of dollars’ worth of petroleum and petroleum products, providing critical revenue to the Iranian regime and its support for terrorist groups that threaten the United States,” the release stated.Targets of the action include nearly two dozen “shadow fleet” vessels, a crude oil terminal in China, an independent refinery, and shipping companies involved in moving hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of Iranian LPG.“The Treasury Department is degrading Iran’s cash flow by dismantling key elements of Iran’s energy export machine,” said secretary Scott Bessent. “Under President Trump, this administration is disrupting the regime’s ability to fund terrorist groups that threaten the United States.”
US sanctions for Iran energy exports: Which Indians have been sanctioned?
Among those sanctioned are Indian nationals – Varun Pula, Soniya Shrestha and Iyappan Raja. All three were designated under Executive Order 13902 for acting directly or indirectly on behalf of firms transporting Iranian petroleum and LPG.Varun Pula owns Marshall Islands-based Bertha Shipping Inc, which, according to the treasury, operates the Comoros-flagged vessel PAMIR (IMO 9208239). The ship has delivered nearly four million barrels of Iranian LPG to China since July 2024.Iyappan Raja owns Evie Lines Inc. This is also based in the Marshall Islands, operating the Panama-flagged SAPPHIRE GAS (IMO 9320738). This vessel has carried over a million barrels of Iranian LPG to China since April 2025.Sonia Shrestha is the owner of Vega Star Ship Management Private Limited, based in India. Her company operates the Comoros-flagged NEPTA (IMO 9013701), which has been transporting Iranian LPG to Pakistan since January 2025. The sanctions also blocked the Vega Star.Under the sanctions, all property and interests in property of the designated individuals and entities within the US or controlled by US persons are frozen. Entities owned 50% or more by one or more blocked persons are also affected.OFAC regulations ban any transactions by US persons or within the US involving the property of those on the sanctions list unless specifically authorized. Breaches can lead to civil or criminal penalties for both US and foreign actors.It also banned many Singapore, Hong Kong, China, UAE-based and other entities.The treasury said the ultimate aim of the sanctions is to bring about a change in behaviour. The treasury also said that those sanctioned can seek to be removed from the sanctions list by following legal procedures.
