US imposes sanctions on Indian company for transporting Iranian oil after missile attack on Israel

An Indian shipping company, Gabbaro Ship Services, is one of several firms sanctioned by the U.S. for allegedly transporting Iranian oil to buyers in Asia, shortly after the US imposed restrictions on Iran's energy trade in response to its October 1 attack on Israel.

The State Department claims that Gabbaro Ship Services acted as the technical manager for the crude oil tanker Hornet and knowingly participated in a significant transaction involving the transportation of petroleum from Iran, linking it to a 'Ghost Fleet, PTI reported. The recent U.S. sanctions targeting various companies globally are a response to Iran's ballistic missile attack on Israel on October 1.

This attack targeted Israel’s most populated city, Tel Aviv, and could have killed hundreds if not thousands of innocent people, US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said. The new designations today also include measures against the 'Ghost Fleet' that carries Iranâs illicit oil to buyers around the world. These measures will help further deny Iran financial resources used to support its missile programmes and provide support for terrorist groups that threaten the United States, its allies, and partners, Sullivan said.

Among the companies sanctions by the State Department are Suriname-based Strong Roots Provider NV, Glazing Future Management NV, Engen Management NV; India-based Gabbaro Ship Services Pvt Ltd; Malaysia-based Alya Marine Sendirian Berhad, and Hong Kong-based Celia Armas Ltd. 

Secretary of the Treasury Janet L Yellen said, Today’s sanctions target Iranian efforts to channel revenues from its energy industry to finance deadly and disruptive activity with dangerous consequences for the region and the world.

Yellen described deadly and disruptive activity as those including development of Iran's nuclear programme, the proliferation of ballistic missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles, and support to regional terrorist proxies.