Several African countries have found themselves at the centre of a United States crackdown on a network accused of helping Iran evade sanctions after Washington alleged that fraudulent ship registries were used to facilitate the transport of illicit Iranian oil.
The US State Department said on Thursday that the Treasury Department had sanctioned 13 individuals and companies linked to an alleged network that sold fraudulent vessel registrations and certificates to ships operating in Iran’s so-called “shadow fleet”.
According to the US, the network is run by India-based Suniel Kumar Sharma and his wife, Jaspreet Preeti Shahid, who allegedly created companies posing as official flag registries and maritime service providers for several countries and territories such as Eswatini, Mali, Mozambique, Malawi, Guyana, Aruba, Sint Maarten and Timor-Leste.
Washington said the companies provided fraudulent registrations and documentation to vessels transporting Iranian oil in violation of US sanctions.
“Most of these governments have publicly disavowed the fraudulent registries,” the State Department said, commending authorities that had exposed the scheme.
The action forms part of Operation Economic Outcast, a Trump administration initiative aimed at depriving Iran of revenue that Washington says is used to fund militant groups, weapons proliferation and regional proxy networks.
Washington also announced measures against a Türkiye-based company accused of providing ground services to Iranian airlines already under US sanctions.
The sanctions highlight ongoing efforts by Washington to disrupt Iran’s ability to sell and transport oil through networks of intermediaries, shell companies and ageing vessels that often operate under opaque ownership structures.
JN/APA