By: Anna Barone
Continuing efforts to target the financial underpinnings of the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines (IRISL), the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced the designation of 10 shipping companies and three individuals affiliated with IRISL. Responding to Iran’s continued efforts to evade sanctions and its ongoing creation and use of new front companies, subsidiaries, and affiliates to protect IRISL and to advance its proliferation activities, today’s actions targeted IRISL’s operations in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Singapore, China and the United Kingdom (UK).
Pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 13382 – which is aimed at prohibiting transactions with, and freezing the assets of proliferators of weapons of mass destruction and their supporters, thereby isolating them from the U.S. financial and commercial systems – Treasury today designated:
· UAE-based companies Pacific Shipping, Great Ocean Shipping Services, Azores Shipping, Atlantic Intermodal, Crystal Shipping and Pearl Shipping for acting for or on behalf of IRISL affiliate Oasis Freight Agency, designated by Treasury in September 2008, and/or IRISL.
· Top IRISL managers and executives Mohammad Moghaddami Fard and Ahmad Tafazoli. Fard is based in the UAE and is a director of IRISL affiliates and designated companies Oasis Freight Agency and Iran o Hind Shipping. Tafazoli is the managing director of IRISL Marine Services and Engineering Company (IMSENGCO), also designated by Treasury in September 2008.
· Alireza Ghezel Ayagh, Managing Director for Asia Marine Network, an IRISL front company in Singapore designated by Treasury in September 2008. Ghezel Ayagh is also a director of Singapore-based Leading Maritime, which was also designated today.
· Sinose Maritime, the agent of both Asia Marine Network and IRISL in Singapore.
· Santex Lines, IRISL’s regional office located in China. Ahmad Tafazoli is the General Manager for Santex Lines.
· Fairway Shipping, a shipping company located in the UK controlled by Mohammad Hadi Pajand, who Treasury designated in November 2010 for being company secretary of Irinvestship Ltd and director of Lancelin Shipping Company, two previously designated entities affiliated with IRISL.
Identifying Information:
Entity: Pacific Shipping DMCEST
Address: Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Entity: Great Ocean Shipping Services L.L.C.
Address: Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Entity: Azores Shipping Company LL FZE
Address: Fujairah, United Arab Emirate
Entity: Atlantic Intermodal
Location: United Arab Emirates
Entity: Crystal Shipping FZE
Location: Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Entity: Pearl Ship Management L.L.C.,
Location: Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Individual: Moghaddami Fard Mohammad
Location: Iran
Individual: Tafazoli, Ahmad
Location: Bojnord, Iran
Individual: Ghezel Ayagh, Alireza
Location: Kerman, Iran
Entity: Sinose Maritime PTE. LTD.
Location: Singapore
Entity: Santex Lines Limited
Address: Shanghai, China
Entity: Leading Maritime PTE. LTD
Address: Singapore
Entity: Fairway Shipping LTD
Address: London, United Kingdom
More Information: http://www.treasury.gov/press-center/press-releases/Pages/tg1212.aspx
