The Department of State is taking action today to constrain further Iran’s destabilizing activities, including its transfer of ballistic missiles to Russia, a serious escalation in its support for Russia’s illegal war against Ukraine. The expanding military partnership between Iran and Russia threatens European security and illustrates how Iran’s destabilizing influence reaches beyond the Middle East to undermine security around the world. The United States will continue to use all tools at our disposal to disrupt and counter Iran’s weapons exports, with particular attention to transfers that support Russia’s war against Ukraine. Today’s sanctions actions build on previous Department of State designations of entities and individuals facilitating Iran-Russia cooperation, including in February 2024, October 2023, May 2023, December 2022.
The Department is designating IRAN AIR pursuant to section 1(a)(i) of Executive Order (E.O.) 13949 for materially contributing to the supply, sale, or transfer, directly or indirectly, to or from Iran, or for the use in or benefit of Iran, of arms or related materiel, including spare parts.
- Iranian proliferators use IRAN AIR to facilitate procurement of sensitive western-origin goods on behalf of Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) and its expeditionary Qods Force (QF) through direct Europe to Iran routes.
- IRAN AIR has transported on numerous occasions proliferation –sensitive materiel to the IRGC QF unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) program.
- IRAN AIR constitutes a key element of Iran’s illicit proliferation network enabling Iran’s acquisition of sensitive-western origin dual-use materials for use in the development of UAVs, some of which are provided to Russia for use in Ukraine.
The Department is designating two Russia-based shipping companies pursuant to section 1(a)(i) of E.O. 14024 for operating or having operated in the marine sector of the Russian Federation economy:
- VAFA WHOLESALE LTD owns vessels that have transported Iranian UAV-related equipment from Iran to Russia via the Caspian Sea.
The following two vessels are being identified as property in which VAFA WHOLESALE LTD has an interest:
- VAFA (IMO 8422670).
- VAFA-1 (IMO 8422682).
- SEA RIVER SERVICE LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY owns vessels that have transported munitions from Iran to Russia via the Caspian Sea for use against Ukraine.
The following three vessels are being identified as property in which SEA RIVER SERVICE LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY has an interest:
- OMSKIY-103 (IMO 8889385). As additional information, OMSKIY-103 transported munitions from Iran to Russia via the Caspian Sea in February 2024.
- OMSKIY-119 (IMO 8926913).
- ZAKAMSK (IMO 8951413).
Sanctions Implications
As a result of today’s action, and in accordance with E.O. 14114, all property and interests in property of the designated persons described above that are in the United States or in possession or control of U.S. persons are blocked and must be reported to the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). Additionally, all individuals or entities that have ownership, either directly or indirectly, 50 percent or more by one or more blocked persons are also blocked. All transactions by U.S. persons or within (or transiting) the United States that involve any property or interests in property of designated or otherwise blocked persons are prohibited unless authorized by a general or specific license issued by OFAC or exempt. These prohibitions include the making of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services by, to, or for the benefit of any blocked person and the receipt of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services from any such person. Additionally, the entry of designated individuals into the United States is suspended pursuant to Presidential Proclamation 8693.
