In a continuing effort to curb Iran’s influence on regional conflict and global energy markets, the United States has imposed fresh sanctions on a network of companies and vessels engaged in the illicit trade of Iranian petroleum and petrochemical products.

Announced by the U.S. Department of State, the action targets Iranian-based exporters, shipping agents, and international commercial managers operating what officials describe as a “shadow fleet” — vessels that conceal their location and cargo origins to evade international detection.

According to the State Department, companies such as Kaveh Methanol Company and ASCO International were found to have facilitated multiple shipments of Iranian methanol since 2022. Other flagged firms, like Asian Sea Angel Shipping Co, operated as intermediaries in these transactions.

Outside Iran, entities in India, the UAE, Panama, and the Marshall Islands were identified for managing tankers that moved millions of barrels of Iranian oil using deceptive practices like “dark activity,” turning off location beacons to avoid radar and regulatory scrutiny.

The designated vessels — including the BATELEUR, NEEL, ARTEMIS III, and RIEVERIA I — are now considered blocked property under U.S. law. This means U.S. individuals and companies are barred from any dealings involving these ships or their owners, unless explicitly licensed.

While sanctions are often seen as punitive, the U.S. government insists the goal remains behavioral change. “The objective is not punishment, but to enforce international norms and disrupt financing for terrorism and oppression,” a State Department spokesperson said.

These sanctions reflect broader geopolitical efforts to enforce Executive Order 13846, which underpins Washington’s “maximum pressure” policy on Tehran — a strategy aimed at restricting Iran’s economic activities that support destabilizing operations both regionally and beyond.