U.S. Sanctions Network Selling Fake Ship Flags to Iran's Shadow Fleet
Washington has punished a network that sold fake ship registrations to Iran's shadow fleet, and a Turkish company serving sanctioned Iranian airlines.
Key points
- The network, led by India-based Suniel Kumar Sharma and his wife Jaspreet Preeti Shahid, sold fraudulent flag registries.
- The certificates were used by vessels carrying illicit Iranian oil.
- Sanctions cover 13 individuals and companies in the Sharma network.
- Several governments whose names were used have publicly disavowed the registries.
The U.S. Department of State announced sanctions against a criminal network that sold fake flags to Iran's so-called shadow fleet, a group of ships that transport Iranian oil illegally.
According to the official statement, the network has operated for more than a decade through companies posing as flag registries and maritime service providers for countries including Guyana, Eswatini, Aruba, Mali, Mozambique, Malawi, Sint Maarten and Timor-Leste. These firms sold fraudulent registrations and certificates to vessels carrying Iranian crude. The statement identifies the leaders as India-based Suniel Kumar Sharma and his wife, Jaspreet Preeti Shahid.
The measures cover 13 individuals and companies linked to Sharma. The U.S. Also sanctioned a Türkiye-based company that provides ground services to sanctioned Iranian airlines. The designations were made under Executive Order 13902, which targets Iran's petroleum, petrochemical and aviation sectors.
The Office of the Spokesman said the action is part of "Operation Economic Outcast," a campaign to cut off funds that Washington says Iran uses to finance terrorism, weapons proliferation and its allies in the region.
The U.S. Also urged flag states, port authorities and the maritime industry to verify vessel registrations and deny shadow fleet ships access to their waters and ports. Several governments whose names were used in these registries had already publicly distanced themselves from them.
Why it matters
The sanctions aim to cut revenue that Washington says Iran uses to fund terrorism and its regional proxies. The case reinforces calls to verify the registrations of ships operating on forged documents in maritime trade.