WASHINGTON (Oct 11) — The United States has imposed sanctions on eight Indian nationals and several India-based companies as part of a sweeping crackdown on entities allegedly involved in facilitating Iran’s energy trade, the State Department announced on Thursday.
According to the official statement, the State Department sanctioned around 40 entities, individuals, and vessels linked to Iran’s petroleum and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) exports, aimed at cutting off “funds the Iranian regime uses to conduct its malign activity.”
In parallel, the US Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) imposed sanctions on more than 50 entities, individuals, and vessels tied to the Iranian energy network.
Washington said the measures are part of ongoing efforts to restrict Iran’s ability to finance groups such as Hezbollah and Houthi rebels, and to “hold accountable those supporting Iran’s destabilizing activities.”
The identities of the sanctioned Indian individuals and firms were not immediately disclosed, but officials said they were linked to front companies involved in the transport and sale of Iranian oil through deceptive shipping practices and false documentation.
The US has repeatedly warned countries and companies trading with Iran that they risk secondary sanctions under its maximum pressure campaign against Tehran’s oil sector, which remains under international scrutiny for violating UN resolutions.
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