DUBAI: The United States has imposed new sanctions on companies and individuals in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Turkey accused of helping Iran procure weapons components and transport oil via so-called “ghost fleet” ships.
In a statement, the US State Department said the measures focused on networks operating from Iran, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates that allegedly support Tehran’s ballistic missile and advanced conventional weapons programs. The United States has also blacklisted several ships believed to have transported hundreds of millions of dollars of Iranian oil and petrochemicals.
U.S. officials say these entities were involved in efforts to facilitate Iranian oil shipments or supply activities. There was no immediate public response from the companies. Several Turkish companies have also been added to the sanctions list.
The US Treasury said these companies were linked to procurement networks linked to Iranian aviation and defense entities.
In addition to the companies, several shipping companies registered in the jurisdictions were sanctioned, as well as a number of oil and LPG tankers accused of being part of Iran’s “ghost fleet.”
The United States said the measure was taken as part of executive orders targeting weapons proliferation and key sectors of Iran’s economy. The move is part of broader efforts to restrict revenue flows that the United States says fund Iranian missile development and regional proxy activities.
Sanctions could increase compliance pressure on companies in the UAE and Turkey, both of which are important regional trade and logistics hubs with extensive links to global energy markets.
