The United States Department of Treasury has imposed sanctions on a vast criminal network based in India, specifically Chandigarh, for providing false flags and certifications to sanctioned vessels transporting Iranian petroleum.
On Wednesday, the US Department of Treasury announced sanctions against a 'vast criminal network' run by Chandigarh-based Suniel Kumar Sharma and his wife Jaspreet Preeti Shahid. The Department accused them of supporting Iran’s shadow fleet through a web of maritime fraud.
The Department alleged that their schemes provided false flags and certifications to sanctioned vessels involved in transporting Iranian petroleum, including vessels operating on behalf of the Iranian military and its proxies. False flags and fake maritime certifications allow ships engaging in illicit activity to evade international regulations aimed at ensuring crew safety and safeguarding against environmental harm.
In addition to the couple, two other Indian citizens, Ashwani Kumar Dhiman and Ishwinder Singh, who head two of the couple’s businesses, and nine entities linked to Sharma and Shahid were also sanctioned. The Department claimed that these individuals and entities have been involved in providing services to Iran's aviation sector.
The Office of Foreign Assets Control, a treasury department agency, also sanctioned Türkiye-based Fugo Ground Services ‘for its ongoing services in support of Iran’s aviation sector’. Fugo Ground Services provides ground handling and other services to several US-sanctioned Iranian airlines that continue to fly to Türkiye.
In a statement, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said, 'You are either with us or against us'. He added, 'We know where you are, and we will sanction those who continue supporting the Iranian regime, whether by land, sea or air.'
The new sanctions come more than eight months after the conflict in West Asia began on February 28. Peace talks between Washington and Tehran have stalled amid periodic upticks in fighting and US strikes on Iran.
Source:
Scroll.in
