U.S. Sanctions UAE Companies and Vessels in Response to Iran Nuclear Activities

The U.S. Department of State has announced sanctions on three United Arab Emirates (UAE) companies and eleven tankers over their involvement in the transportation of Iranian petroleum or petrochemical products.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the sanctions are in response to Iran’s recent steps to expand its nuclear program, namely increasing its enrichment capacity, in a manner that has “no credible peaceful purpose.” According to Blinken, Iran’s actions are even more worrying given its lack of cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the possibility of changes to its nuclear doctrine as suggested by Iranian officials.

The sanctioned entities include Sea Route Ship Management FZE, Almanac Ship Management LLC, and Al Anchor Ship Management FZE. Each of these companies has been involved in significant transactions for the transport of petroleum or petrochemical products from Iran.

Sea Route Ship Management FZE, which acted as the commercial manager for the vessel ASTRA, was implicated for transporting petrochemical products from Iran in late November 2021. Almanac Ship Management LLC and Al Anchor Ship Management FZE, managing the vessels BERENICE PRIDE and PARINE respectively, were implicated for transporting petroleum products from Iran in late October 2022.

In addition to these companies, the Department of State is also identifying 11 associated vessels as blocked property, including ASTRA, BALTIC HORIZON, NILE, YAMUNA, BERENICE PRIDE, HARMONY, EURO VIKING, EURO FORTUNE, ARABIAN ENERGY, PARINE, and ROAD.

As a result of the sanctions, all property and interests in property of these entities within the United States, or within U.S. citizens’ possession, including any foreign branches, are blocked and must be reported to the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Assets Control (OFAC). The regulations also prohibit all dealings by U.S. persons or within the U.S. that involve any property or interests in property of blocked or designated persons.

“We remain committed to never letting Iran obtain a nuclear weapon, and we are prepared to use all elements of national power to ensure that outcome. As President Biden and the other leaders of the G7 stated earlier this month, Iran must cease its escalations with regard to its nuclear program as well as its other destabilizing actions,” Blinken said.

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