October DealsAmazon USOctober deal check: compare before you payAmazon US: current deals, useful picks and tech finds.Check DealsWindows FixRecommendedWindows errors stealing your time? Find the fix fastScan stability, cleanup and performance issues.Fix NowOctober DealsAmazon USDeal season is back - check today's better picksAmazon US: current deals, useful picks and tech finds.See Picks×
Skip to content
The Finance Base
The Money Desk · Blog
Re:

U.S. Imposes Fresh Sanctions on Iran’s Shadow Fleet: 17 Vessels Targeted

Treasury announced sanctions against 17 vessels and associated companies over reported Iranian petroleum shipments, while removing two other ships from its list.
From TheFinanceBase Team4 min to read

What’s actually slowing this PC down?

Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

On October 8, 2026, the U.S. Treasury Department announced sanctions against 17 vessels and associated companies it said helped move Iranian petroleum and petrochemical products to markets in South and East Asia. The action, taken under Executive Order 13902, blocks certain property and restricts transactions involving U.S. persons; Treasury also removed two other vessels from the sanctions list.

What did the U.S. sanction?

The Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated 17 vessels and companies connected to them under Executive Order 13902, which targets Iran’s petroleum sector and other key sectors. Treasury said the vessels had transported millions of barrels of Iranian crude oil, petroleum and petrochemical products to markets in South and East Asia. It described the move as part of Operation Economic Outcast, aimed at disrupting shipping channels that enable Iranian sales. Treasury’s October 8 announcement does not quantify the action’s effect on Iranian revenue, shipping volumes or market prices.

The shipment histories below are Treasury’s reported examples, not independently verified cargo records. Vessel and company designations can change; check OFAC’s current records before making a compliance decision.

Which vessels did Treasury name?

Treasury identified vessels by name and International Maritime Organization (IMO) number, along with reported flags, ownership or operators, and cargo histories. The IMO number helps distinguish a vessel from others with similar names.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.
#1 Best Overall
Sands Original Products Modern Oil Tanker Ship Model - 12 Inch Commercial Vessel Replica - Merchant Marine Supertanker - Nautical Decor & Maritime Industry Gift for Adults
  • detailed 12-inch scale model representing a modern commercial oil tanker. This replica celebrates the "titans of trade," featuring the classic flat-deck design, complex piping systems, stern bridge superstructure, and bulbous bow found on real-world supertankers.
  • Unlike standard ship models, this piece showcases the intricate network of deck piping, valves, and catwalks characteristic of liquid cargo vessels. The multi-colored design (green deck, white superstructure, black/red hull) provides an authentic industrial look without the need for painting.
  • Designed as a static display piece for logistics professionals, oil and gas industry workers, merchant mariners, and naval engineers. Its sturdy, flat-bottomed hull sits stable on any desk, shelf, or bookcase, making it a perfect professional accent for a corporate office or home study.
  • This is a specialized model intended for display and appreciation of maritime engineering
Vessel and IMO number Flag and owner or operator cited by Treasury Reported cargo history
PARITOSH (9383352) Comoros; Marshall Islands-registered Paritosh Shipping Inc. More than 100,000 barrels of Iranian bitumen/asphalt in 2026.
BITU (9531765) Panama; Marshall Islands-registered Ornella Shipping Inc. More than 170,000 barrels of Iranian bitumen/asphalt in 2026.
STARWAY (9273246) Panama; China-based Hechuang International Group More than 3 million barrels of Iranian naphtha since 2025.
GAS LUCKY (9177557) Bahamas; China-based Shunhang Ship Management Ltd More than 500,000 barrels of Iranian ethylene since 2025.
G SPRING (9040118) Mongolia; Hong Kong-registered JLS Dragon Co Ltd Equivalent of more than 1 million barrels of Iranian LPG to China since 2021.
KANHA (9308766) Palau; Marshall Islands-registered Kanha Shipping Inc More than 3 million barrels of Iranian high-sulfur fuel oil since 2021.
KING CHAIN (9277761) Cameroon; Saint Abundant International Co Limited Several million barrels of Iranian methanol to China since 2023.
POLAR (9050187) Zanzibar; Marshall Islands-based Terra Nav Shipping Ltd More than 100,000 barrels of Iranian propane/butane to Pakistan since 2025.
MACKEREL (9234628) Panama; Marshall Islands-based Betta Shipping Inc. More than 500,000 barrels of Iranian high-sulfur fuel oil since December 2025.
GAS MARAKUA (9240421) Sierra Leone; British Virgin Islands-based Makarua Shipping Limited More than 1 million barrels of Iranian propane/butane since late 2025.
ZIXUAN (9317298) Vanuatu; Marshall Islands-based Goddess Shipping Corp. More than 1 million barrels of Iranian propane/butane since October 2025.
AVA 6 (9226140) Hong Kong; Hong Kong-based Standwill Shipping Limited More than 1 million barrels of Iranian naphtha since September 2025.
TINA 5 (9237761) Vanuatu; Marshall Islands-based Nostalgia Company Limited More than 1.5 million barrels of Iranian crude oil in August 2026.
SOGL (9208227) Comoros; Marshall Islands-based Gravion Maritime Company More than 2 million barrels of Iranian propane/butane since September 2025.
NOBLE SEA (9343118) San Marino; Hong Kong-based Brich Shipping Co. Limited More than 2 million barrels of Iranian ammonia and propane/butane since mid-2025; a 200,000-barrel Iranian methanol shipment in June 2026.
SHENZHEN (9276561) Cameroon; Marshall Islands-based Northport Navigation Inc. More than 3.5 million barrels of Iranian crude oil since November 2025.
EXFLAME (9294678) Gambia; Marshall Islands-registered Science Ru Trading Co. Limited More than 400,000 barrels of Iranian methanol since mid-2026.

What do the sanctions mean for U.S.-linked transactions?

Treasury says property and interests in property belonging to designated or blocked persons must be blocked when they are in the United States or in the possession or control of U.S. persons, and reported to OFAC. An entity is also blocked if one or more blocked persons own, directly or indirectly, 50 percent or more of it in aggregate.

Unless an OFAC license or exemption applies, U.S. persons and transactions within or transiting the United States generally may not involve property or interests in property of blocked persons. Treasury also warns of potential civil or criminal penalties and possible sanctions exposure for certain foreign financial institutions. The consequences for a particular payment, contract or business relationship depend on the facts and applicable rules; consult qualified sanctions counsel rather than treating this summary as legal advice.

Rank #2
Showcasts International Oil Tanker, Yellow 2105FD3-5.5 Inch Scale Diecast Model Replica
  • 2105FD/3 International Tanker with Decal - Oil Tanker
  • This tanker truck is a 5.5"Lx 1.5"Wx 2.25"H die cast metal tractor trailer
  • Pullback action
  • Brand: Showcasts Collectibles
  • Yellow

Why did Treasury remove two other vessels?

In the same announcement, OFAC removed HAKUNA MATATA (IMO 9354167) and PINOCCHIO (IMO 9400112) from the sanctions list. Treasury said they had left the shadow fleet and been sold to non-sanctioned, U.S.-aligned operators, allowing them to reintegrate into licit maritime operations. The removals illustrate that vessel status can change; they do not establish the current status of any other ship.

How does maritime sanctions evasion work?

OFAC’s April 16, 2025 maritime advisory describes practices used to conceal shipment origins or the involvement of sanctioned parties. These include opaque ownership structures, shifting or fraudulent flags, ship-to-ship transfers, and missing or manipulated Automatic Identification System (AIS) data. AIS is the vessel-tracking system used to broadcast a ship’s identity and position.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.
Rank #3
Showcasts International Oil Tanker, White 2105DC - 1/43 Scale Diecast Model Car
  • International Oil Tanker - 2105DC Showcasts Model Vehicle
  • 1/43 scale collectible vehicle model
  • This International Oil Tanker is a 5.5"Lx 1.5"Wx 2.25"H model with some plastic parts
  • Pull back action
  • 1 car, no box

The advisory says Iran often uses three to five ship-to-ship transfers in a single shipment to obscure crude-oil origin or the involvement of a sanctioned vessel. It flags successive transfers—particularly alongside nighttime operations, unsafe waters or missing or manipulated AIS data—as potential indicators of sanctions evasion. A transfer can also have a legitimate purpose, so no single indicator proves wrongdoing. OFAC recommends reviewing vessel registration histories and conducting enhanced due diligence on vessels and counterparties. It also warns that older, poorly maintained vessels operating outside standard maritime rules pose safety risks.

The advisory says Kharg Island accounts for around 90 percent of Iran’s total seaborne crude loadings. That figure is from the April 2025 advisory, not a measurement of the October 2026 action. Treasury describes the maritime ecosystem as fluid, with vessels entering and leaving the network, so the advisory should be read as risk context rather than a current status check for the 17 designated vessels.

Rank #4
ModelToyCars Intl Oil Tanker, Black - 2105DC - Diecast Model Car
  • Intl Oil Tanker - 2105DC Model Vehicle
  • This is a 5.5"Lx 1.5"Wx 2.25"H Diecast Metal model with some plastic parts
  • Pull Back Action
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Support on Ko-Fi

What is known about the action’s effects?

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent characterized the policy as “starving the tyrannical regime in Tehran of the money it uses to wage war in the region” and said Treasury would continue exposing those who enable Iran’s oil sales. That is the Secretary’s stated rationale, not an independently established measure of the sanctions’ effects. The October 8 announcement provides vessel and cargo examples but no estimate of changes to Iranian revenue, shipping volumes or market prices.

Quick Recap

Bestseller No. 1
Bestseller No. 2
Showcasts International Oil Tanker, Yellow 2105FD3-5.5 Inch Scale Diecast Model Replica
Showcasts International Oil Tanker, Yellow 2105FD3-5.5 Inch Scale Diecast Model Replica
2105FD/3 International Tanker with Decal - Oil Tanker; This tanker truck is a 5.5"Lx 1.5"Wx 2.25"H die cast metal tractor trailer
$6.89
Bestseller No. 3
Showcasts International Oil Tanker, White 2105DC - 1/43 Scale Diecast Model Car
Showcasts International Oil Tanker, White 2105DC - 1/43 Scale Diecast Model Car
International Oil Tanker - 2105DC Showcasts Model Vehicle; 1/43 scale collectible vehicle model
$6.99
Bestseller No. 4
ModelToyCars Intl Oil Tanker, Black - 2105DC - Diecast Model Car
ModelToyCars Intl Oil Tanker, Black - 2105DC - Diecast Model Car
Intl Oil Tanker - 2105DC Model Vehicle; This is a 5.5"Lx 1.5"Wx 2.25"H Diecast Metal model with some plastic parts
$5.99
Bestseller No. 5
ModelToyCars Intl Oil Tanker, Red - 2105DC - 1/43 Scale Diecast Model Car
ModelToyCars Intl Oil Tanker, Red - 2105DC - 1/43 Scale Diecast Model Car
Intl Oil Tanker - 2105DC Model Vehicle; 1/43 Scale Collectible Model Truck; This is a 5.5"Lx 1.5"Wx 2.25"H Diecast Metal model with some plastic parts
$6.53
Best Value
ModelToyCars Intl Oil Tanker, Red - 2105DC - 1/43 Scale Diecast Model Car
  • Intl Oil Tanker - 2105DC Model Vehicle
  • 1/43 Scale Collectible Model Truck
  • This is a 5.5"Lx 1.5"Wx 2.25"H Diecast Metal model with some plastic parts
  • Pull Back Action

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

More post from the Money Desk

  1. The Money DeskBlogTheFinanceBase09 OCT 267 minMortgage Escrow FAQs: Taxes, Insurance, Shortages, and Refunds
  2. The Money DeskBlogTheFinanceBase09 OCT 265 minHow Mortgage Escrow Accounts Work and What Homeowners Pay For
  3. The Money DeskBlogTheFinanceBase09 OCT 265 minHow to Read a Stock Chart, Volume and Market-Cap Data
Recommended PC Tool
Recommended PC Tool
Outdated Drivers Are Slowing You DownFree scan - exact matches
Windows Errors? Fix Them Before They SpreadFree repair scan

Two free Windows tools

One Free Minute Could Fix That PC

Before you go - each of these free tools takes about a minute and tackles what quietly slows a Windows PC down.

Special offer. View Outbyte info, uninstall instructions, EULA, and Privacy Policy.