US stops more than a dozen ships for promoting illegal trade in support of Iran's military

Washington: The United States on Thursday designated an entity accused of facilitating illicit trade in support of Iran's military and identified 13 related vessels as blocked assets, according to a statement from the US State Department.

The US is also updating the name of a vessel on the Specially Designated National (SDN) and Blocked Persons lists.

facilitating illegal trade

“The United States is today designating one entity and recognizing 13 related vessels as blocked assets, as well as in support of the Iranian Armed Forces General Staff (AFGS) and the Ministry of Defense for facilitating illicit trade Updating a ship's name in the SDN list. Armed Forces Logistics (MODAFL),” the US State Department said in an official statement.

It added that the United States will continue to take action against entities that transport goods or facilitate transactions in support of MODAFL and AFGS, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, or Iran's foreign proxy and partner groups.

Disruption of illegal funding streams

“We are committed to disrupting the illicit funding streams that finance Iran’s weapons production that support Russia’s war against Ukraine and attacks by Iranian proxy groups throughout the Middle East,” the statement said.

The United States, in February, also imposed sanctions on four entities that served as front companies and subsidiaries for US-designated Hamed Dehghan and Pishtzan Kavosh Gostar Boshra (PKGB).

The US State Department said these entities have supplied material and sensitive technology to Iran's ballistic missile and UAV programs, including the Martyr-series UAVs being used by Russian forces against Ukraine.

Using UAVs for terrorist acts

Iran-made UAVs have been used to carry out terrorist acts, including dozens of attacks by Iran-aligned militia groups on American personnel that have resulted in the deaths of American soldiers.

According to the US State Department, the Iran-backed Houthis have also carried out attacks on commercial ships and US naval assets using Iranian-made UAVs and missiles.

The United States is committed to using all available tools to expose and hold accountable individuals and entities that contribute to the spread of the Iranian regime, which directly harms U.S. personnel in the field and regional instability in the Middle East. and contributes to Russia's war against Ukraine.