US sanctions shipping firms and four vessels over Iranian commodity trade funding Houthis

The US Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control on 12 January sanctioned two companies and identified four vessels that it says shipped Iranian commodities generating revenue for the Houthis and Iran's IRGC-Qods Force. The designated firms are Hong Kong-based Cielo Maritime Ltd, owner of the Mehle, and UAE-based Global Tech Marine Services Inc, which Treasury says operated the Molecule and the Fortune Galaxy. The Sincere 02 was also identified. According to Treasury, the trade relied on falsified shipping documents to conceal the origin of cargoes. Under Secretary Brian Nelson said the US would keep acting against "illicit Iranian financial networks that fund the Houthis".

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