The United States has imposed a sweeping new round of sanctions on over 50 individuals, companies, and vessels accused of facilitating the sale and shipment of Iranian oil and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG).
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Announced on Thursday by the US Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), this action is aimed at crippling Iran’s cash flow, which the US alleges is used to fund terrorist activities. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated the move is meant to “degrade Iran’s cash flow by dismantling key elements of Iran’s energy export machine.”
🇮🇳 Three Indian Nationals Targeted
Among those sanctioned are three Indian nationals accused of helping Iran move its petroleum products through complex global shipping networks: Varun Pula, Soniya Shrestha, and Iyappan Raja. They were targeted under Executive Order 13902.
| Individual | Role & Company | Vessel (Flag/IMO) | Alleged Cargo & Destination |
| Varun Pula | Owner of Bertha Shipping Inc. (Marshall Islands) | PAMIR (Comoros-flagged, IMO 9208239) | Nearly 4 million barrels of Iranian LPG to China since July 2024. |
| Iyappan Raja | Owner of Evie Lines Inc. (Marshall Islands) | SAPPHIRE GAS (Panama-flagged, IMO 9320738) | Over 1 million barrels of Iranian LPG to China since April 2025. |
| Soniya Shrestha | Owner of Vega Star Ship Management Private Limited (India) | NEPTA (Comoros-flagged, IMO 9013701) | Iranian-origin LPG to Pakistan since January 2025. |
💰 Impact of the Sanctions
The sanctions target a “shadow fleet” of vessels and front companies that the US claims generated billions in revenue for Tehran.
- Asset Freeze: All property and interests of the designated individuals and entities in the US, or under the control of US persons, are frozen.
- Company Blocking: Any company owned 50 per cent or more by these designated individuals or entities will also be blocked.
The Treasury Department asserts this move is a key part of the Trump administration’s “national security” strategy to disrupt the Iranian regime’s financial capacity.
Would you like a brief explanation of how US economic sanctions work, or more details on the “shadow fleet” mentioned in the announcement?
