U.S. slaps sanctions designations on five Iranian tanker captains

Written by Nick Blenkey
OFAC sanctions are a Treasury function

The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) today took action against the captains of the five ships that U.S.-sanctioned Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines (IRISL) and National Iranian Tanker Company (NITC) recently used to deliver Iranian gasoline to the Maduro regime in Venezuela. These captains, the masters of five Iranian flagged tankers, Clavel, Petunia, Fortune, Forest and Faxon, delivered gasoline and gasoline components to Venezuela, and are now added to OFAC’s Specially Designated National and Blocked Persons List (SDN List).

“The Treasury Department will target anyone who supports Iranian attempts to evade United States sanctions and who further enables their destabilizing behavior around the world,” said Treasury Secretary Steven T. Mnuchin. “The Iranian regime’s support to the authoritarian and corrupt regime in Venezuela is unacceptable, and the Administration will continue to use its authorities to disrupt it.”

As a result of today’s action, says the Treasury, all property and interests in property of these targets that are in the United States or in the possession or control of U.S. persons is blocked and must be reported to OFAC. OFAC’s regulations generally prohibit all dealings by U.S. persons or within the United States (including transactions transiting the United States) that involve any property or interests in property of blocked or designated persons.

In addition, persons that engage in certain transactions with the individuals identified today may themselves be exposed to sanctions or subject to an enforcement action. Furthermore, unless an exception applies, any foreign financial institution that knowingly facilitates a significant transaction(s) for any of the individuals or entities designated today could be subject to U.S. sanctions.

OFAC published the following identifying information on the captains:

  • DANAEI KENARSARI, Ali; DOB 19 May 1977; POB Shemiran, Iran; nationality Iran; Additional Sanctions Information – Subject to Secondary Sanctions; Gender Male; Passport K41818536 (Iran) expires 10 Jul 2022 (individual) [IRAN] (Linked To: ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF IRAN SHIPPING LINES).
  • GOHARDEHI, Mohsen; DOB 14 Sep 1985; POB Sary, Iran; nationality Iran; Additional Sanctions Information – Subject to Secondary Sanctions; Gender Male; Passport E52807849 (Iran) expires 05 Mar 2025 (individual) [IRAN] (Linked To: ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF IRAN SHIPPING LINES).
  • RAHNAVARD, Alireza; DOB 21 Mar 1980; POB Shiraz, Iran; nationality Iran; Additional Sanctions Information – Subject to Secondary Sanctions; Gender Male (individual) [IRAN] (Linked To: NATIONAL IRANIAN TANKER COMPANY).
  • VAZIRI, Reza; DOB 05 Mar 1967; nationality Iran; Additional Sanctions Information – Subject to Secondary Sanctions; Gender Male; Passport T45534988 (Iran) expires 08 May 2023 (individual) [IRAN] (Linked To: NATIONAL IRANIAN TANKER COMPANY).
  • YAHYA ZADEH, Hamidreza (a.k.a. YAHYAZADEH, Hamid Reza; a.k.a. YAHYAZADEH, Hamidreza), Bandar Abbas, Iran; DOB 12 Oct 1961; nationality Iran; Additional Sanctions Information – Subject to Secondary Sanctions; Gender Male; National ID No. 4431472851 (Iran) (individual) [IRAN] (Linked To: NATIONAL IRANIAN TANKER COMPANY).​
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