EUROPEAN UNION AND US IMPOSE SANCTIONS ON IRANIAN-FUNDED SHIPMENTS
The European Union and the United States have stepped up their efforts to crack down on Iranian-funded shipments, imposing sanctions on nine tankers and eight shipping companies linked to Iran.
In recent days, naval military forces have increased economic pressure on Iran, enforcing sanctions on vessels and companies connected to the country. The move comes as tensions escalate in Mediterranean, Baltic, and Persian Gulf waters.
RUSSIAN SHIPMENTS TO LIBYA
Meanwhile, a Russian cargo ship, Mys Zhelaniya, has been confirmed to have delivered equipment to Libya, accompanied by a Russian naval vessel, according to satellite images and sea monitoring data. The ship, owned by Transstroy, a Russian construction company involved in major energy projects and infrastructure developments in the Arctic, is subject to international sanctions.
The cargo, likely destined for Russia’s “Africa Corps,” a military force that replaced Wagner Group and operated in Libya in 2024, supporting Khalifa Haftar’s forces. The port city of Tobruk, controlled by Haftar’s forces, has become a key hub for Russian military supplies.
RUSSIAN REACTION
Russian Ambassador to the United Kingdom, Andrei Kelyan, warned that Iranian-funded tankers may soon be accompanied by Russian government ships. “What politicians in London are talking about is essentially a return to the era of pirate Edward Teach, also known as Blackbeard,” Kelyan said in an interview with Izvestia. “What they forget is that Britain has long ceased to be the ‘lord of the seas’ and its actions will not go unpunished.”
US INTERVENTION IN PERSIAN GULF
The US Department of Treasury announced that eight shipping companies, registered in multiple jurisdictions including India, Marshall Islands, and Seychelles, were founded primarily to own and operate vessels subject to sanctions. The sanctions freeze all assets and interests of entities designated by the US and prohibit US individuals from conducting transactions with them. Any entity owned 50% or more by parties subject to sanctions is automatically frozen according to OFAC rules.
The OFAC warned that violations of US sanctions can lead to severe consequences, including fines and imprisonment.
CONCLUSION
As tensions escalate in global waters, the European Union and the United States have taken decisive action to curb Iranian-funded shipments. The Russian government has responded with warnings of its own, highlighting the need for international cooperation to address these issues.
Original Article: Η Ευρώπη στο «κυνήγι» του σκιώδους στόλου και των κατασχέσεων πλοίων – Νέες κυρώσεις των ΗΠΑ — Toedolio5 (Greek) | View English Translation