On April 16, 2025, the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) issued an updated Iran Shipping Advisory and designated several entities and vessels involved in the illicit transport of Iranian oil.​

The advisory is an update to the September 2019 advisory and provides guidance to shipping and maritime stakeholders on detecting and mitigating Iranian oil sanctions evasion. The updated guidance and designations is part of National Security Presidential  Memorandum (NSPM-2), which imposes a policy of ‘maximum pressure’ on the Government of Iran.

A link to the Advisory can be found HERE

 

Entities and Vessels Designated

OFAC added several entities and vessels to its Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) List:​

Entities

  • BESTLA COMPANY LIMITED (Marshall Islands): Involved in the operation of vessels transporting Iranian oil.​
  • CIVIC CAPITAL SHIPPING INC. (Panama): Operates vessels engaged in the illicit transport of Iranian petroleum.​
  • DEXIANG SHIPPING CO., LIMITED (Hong Kong): Manages vessels used for shipping Iranian oil.​
  • OCEANIC ORBIT INCORPORATED (Panama): Operates vessels involved in the transport of Iranian petroleum.​
  • PRO MISSION SDN BHD (Malaysia): Provides services to vessels engaged in the illicit shipping of Iranian oil.​
  • SHANDONG SHENGXING CHEMICAL CO., LTD. (China): Purchases Iranian oil, facilitating its export.​
  • STARBOARD SHIPPING INC. (Panama): Operates vessels involved in the transport of Iranian petroleum.​

Vessels

  • FIONA II (Panama): Involved in transporting illicit Iranian oil since at least 2023.​
  • YURI (Marshall Islands): Has carried Iranian oil to China since at least 2020.​
  • VANITY (Marshall Islands): Operated in transporting Iranian oil to China.​
  • OLIVE (Panama): Managed by Tightship Shipping Management (OPC) Private Limited, involved in transporting Iranian oil.
  • BLACK PANTHER (Panama): Engaged in ship-to-ship transfers of Iranian oil with Iranian-flagged vessels.
  • ​LIONESS (Panama): Involved in transporting Iranian oil.​
  • TONIL (Panama): Managed by Lightship Management Ltd, has carried millions of barrels of oil for Iran.​
  • CERES I (Hong Kong): Involved in transporting Iranian oil since at least 2021.​