Daijiworld Media Network - Washington
Washington, Oct 10: The US Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) on Thursday announced sanctions against more than 50 individuals, entities, and vessels for facilitating Iranian oil and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) sales and shipments, including Indian nationals linked to trading activities in Iran’s energy sector.
According to the US Treasury, those sanctioned have enabled the export of billions of dollars’ worth of petroleum and petroleum products, providing key revenue to the Iranian regime. The action targets a network involved in moving hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of Iranian LPG, along with nearly two dozen vessels, a China-based crude oil terminal, and a refinery.
“Treasury is degrading Iran's cash flow by dismantling key elements of its energy export machine,” said Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.
Indian nationals Varun Pula, Soniya Shrestha, and Iyappan Raja were sanctioned under Executive Order 13902 for acting directly or indirectly on behalf of shipping firms involved in transporting Iranian petroleum and LPG.
Varun Pula owns Marshall Islands-based Bertha Shipping Inc., which operates the Comoros-flagged vessel PAMIR that has transported nearly four million barrels of Iranian LPG to China since July 2024. Iyappan Raja owns Evie Lines Inc., which operates the Panama-flagged SAPPHIRE GAS that has carried over a million barrels of Iranian LPG to China since April 2025. Soniya Shrestha owns India-based Vega Star Ship Management Pvt. Ltd., which operates the Comoros-flagged NEPTA that has transported Iranian-origin LPG to Pakistan since January 2025.
All property and interests in property of the designated persons within the United States or under US control are frozen. OFAC regulations prohibit all transactions involving these individuals or entities unless specifically authorized, with violations subject to civil or criminal penalties.
The Treasury Department said the sanctions aim to bring about a change in behavior, and designated parties may seek removal through established legal procedures.