US finds two companies financing Iran’s Qods Force and houthis

The Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has designated two companies in Hong Kong and the United Arab Emirates for shipping Iranian commodities on behalf of the network of Iran-based, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Qods Force backed Houthi financial facilitator Sa’id al-Jamal.

OFAC is also identifying four vessels as blocked property in which these companies have an interest. The revenue from the commodity sales supports the Houthis and their continued attacks against international shipping in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.

“The United States continues to take action against the illicit Iranian financial networks that fund the Houthis and facilitate their attacks”

Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Brian E. Nelson.

On the December, 11 U.S. military forces together with the United Kingdom and with support from Australia, Bahrain, Canada, and the Netherlands conducted strikes against a number of targets in Yemen used by Houthi rebels

“These strikes are in direct response to unprecedented Houthi attacks against international maritime vessels in the Red Sea—including the use of anti-ship ballistic missiles for the first time in history”

US President Joe Biden
  • The following entities have been added to OFAC’s SDN List:
    CIELO MARINE LTD (a.k.a. CIELO MARINE LIMITED), Room 6, 17th Floor, Wellborne Commercial Centre, 8, Java Road, North Point, Hong Kong, China; Secondary sanctions risk: section 1(b) of Executive Order 13224, as amended by Executive Order 13886; Organization Established Date 28 May 2023; Identification Number IMO 6410134; Registration Number 75354250 (Hong Kong) [SDGT] (Linked To: AL-JAMAL, Sa’id Ahmad Muhammad). 
  • GLOBAL TECH MARINE SERVICES INC, Trust Company Complex, Ajeltake Road, Majuro, Ajeltake Island 96960, Marshall Islands; 8th Floor, Arenco Tower, Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai, United Arab Emirates; Secondary sanctions risk: section 1(b) of Executive Order 13224, as amended by Executive Order 13886; Organization Established Date 15 Dec 2020; Identification Number IMO 6197743; Business Registration Number 107145 (Marshall Islands) [SDGT] (Linked To: AL-JAMAL, Sa’id Ahmad Muhammad).
  • The following vessels have been added to OFAC’s SDN List:
    FORTUNE GALAXY (3E2520) Crude Oil Tanker Panama flag; Secondary sanctions risk: section 1(b) of Executive Order 13224, as amended by Executive Order 13886; Vessel Registration Identification IMO 9257010; MMSI 352001505 (vessel) [SDGT] (Linked To: GLOBAL TECH MARINE SERVICES INC).
  • MEHLE (3E3893) Crude Oil Tanker Panama flag; Secondary sanctions risk: section 1(b) of Executive Order 13224, as amended by Executive Order 13886; Vessel Registration Identification IMO 9191711; MMSI 352002537 (vessel) [SDGT] (Linked To: CIELO MARINE LTD).
  • MOLECULE (TJMC241) Crude Oil Tanker Cameroon flag; Secondary sanctions risk: section 1(b) of Executive Order 13224, as amended by Executive Order 13886; Vessel Registration Identification IMO 9209300; MMSI 613003214 (vessel) [SDGT] (Linked To: GLOBAL TECH MARINE SERVICES INC).
  • SINCERE 02 (3E4733) Oil Products Tanker Kiribati flag; Secondary sanctions risk: section 1(b) of Executive Order 13224, as amended by Executive Order 13886; Vessel Registration Identification IMO 9226011; MMSI 352002984 (vessel) [SDGT] (Linked To: GLOBAL TECH MARINE SERVICES INC).

The United States has imposed sanctions on one individual and three entities from Russia

The Department of State has imposed sanctions on one individual and three entities complicit in the transfer to Russia and testing of DPRK-origin ballistic missiles by Russia since late November 2023. The Department is also identifying four aircraft owned by the U.S.-designated Command of the Military Transport Aviation (VTA) as blocked property.

The following individual have been added to OFAC’s (The Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control) SDN List:

  • MIKHEYCHIK, Vladimir Vladimirovich (a.k.a. MIKHEICHIK, Vladimir Vladimirovich), Russia; DOB 16 May 1970; nationality Russia; Gender Male; Tax ID No. 772975847073 (Russia) (individual) [RUSSIA-EO14024] (Linked To: JOINT STOCK COMPANY THE 224TH FLIGHT UNIT STATE AIRLINES).

The following entities have been added to OFAC’s SDN List:

  • ASHULUK FIRING RANGE (a.k.a. ASHULUK TEST RANGE), Astrakhan Oblast, Russia.
  • VLADIMIROVKA ADVANCED WEAPONS AND RESEARCH COMPLEX (a.k.a. VAWARC), Astrakhan Oblast, Russia.

The following aircraft have been added to OFAC’s SDN List:

  • RF-78757; Aircraft Manufacture Date 27 Apr 1988; Aircraft Mode S Transponder Code 1533A5; Aircraft Model IL-76MD; Aircraft Manufacturer’s Serial Number (MSN) 83484547; Aircraft Tail Number RF-78757 (aircraft).
  • RF-82011; Aircraft Manufacture Date 31 Dec 1986; Aircraft Mode S Transponder Code 15405B; Aircraft Model AN-124; Aircraft Manufacturer’s Serial Number (MSN) 9773054616023; Aircraft Tail Number RF-82011 (aircraft).
  • RF-86898; Aircraft Manufacture Date 28 Jan 1982; Aircraft Mode S Transponder Code 155372; Aircraft Model IL-76; Aircraft Manufacturer’s Serial Number (MSN) 23435028; Aircraft Tail Number RF-86898 (aircraft).

Ashuluk firing range located in the south part of Russia. Test range is using for combat firing from the S-400 Triumph anti-aircraft missile systems and the Pantsir-S anti-aircraft missile and cannon complexes.