The United States, on 30 July, announced sweeping sanctions on more than 115 individuals, entities, and vessels tied to Iran, weeks after bombing key nuclear sites, as part of its intensifying pressure campaign on Tehran.
The latest sanctions, described by the Treasury Department as the most significant since 2018, focus heavily on the shipping empire of Mohammad Hossein Shamkhani, the son of Ali Shamkhani, an adviser to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. According to US officials, Shamkhani operates a vast web of container ships and oil tankers through intermediaries, enabling the export of Iranian and Russian oil while generating billions in profits for the regime.
Treasury accused Shamkhani of exploiting personal ties and systemic corruption within Tehran to prop up the Islamic Republic and its regional activities. His network allegedly spans 17 countries, including Italy, Panama, and Hong Kong.
In total, Washington blacklisted 15 shipping firms, 52 vessels, 12 individuals, and 53 entities. A senior US official noted the action was calibrated to avoid disrupting global oil markets, saying it targets specific actors involved in sanctions evasion.
Although the sanctions will affect both Iran and Russia, the US stressed the move was primarily aimed at Tehran, citing Shamkhani’s direct ties to the Supreme Leader and his family’s prior involvement in sanctions breaches.
The European Union had already sanctioned Shamkhani earlier in July for his role in facilitating Russian oil exports. His father, Ali Shamkhani, was sanctioned by the US in 2020.
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