Washington: Today, the Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) is intensifying its efforts to disrupt and degrade the illicit shipping and sanctions evasion network of Mohammad Hossein Shamkhani. This action is part of Treasury's ongoing efforts to ramp up economic pressure on the Iranian regime after it resumed destabilizing attacks in the Strait of Hormuz. The Shamkhani network remains a major force behind Iran's oil exports and has expanded into global containerized shipping and commodities trading.According to U.S. Department of the Treasury, today's action includes more than 50 individuals, entities, and vessels that enable Shamkhani and the Iranian regime to continue profiting while the Iranian people remain burdened under the economic yoke imposed by their government. Today's action builds on OFAC's April 2026 and July 2025 designation actions targeting the Shamkhani network, and Treasury has now sanctioned more than 200 individuals, entities, and vessels operating under Shamkhani's patronage.Today's action is being taken pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 13902, which provides authority to the Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Secretary of State, to identify and impose sanctions on key sectors of Iran's economy. Today's action also reflects OFAC's ongoing close collaboration with Treasury's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN). Treasury continues to target Iranian oil sales under the President's National Security Presidential Memorandum 2 (NSPM-2).Key financial and logistics associates involved in the network include Iranian nationals Hossein Ghorbani Zahed and Mohammad Reza Rahbar Madani, who have worked as primary financiers for Shamkhani's network. They provide exchange house services, including access to foreign currency and shell companies. Ali Rakhbarmadani, a dual national, is linked to multiple companies within the network and has been instrumental in facilitating trade and evading sanctions.The network's reach extends into containeri zed shipping, with Singapore-based Sea Lead Shipping PTE. Ltd. managing a fleet that includes Panama-flagged vessels. Dubai-based We Freight Shipping LLC, part of the We Freight group, also plays a role in the network's operations, blending illicit and licit trade to benefit Shamkhani.OFAC's sanctions target various owners and operators of vessels within the Shamkhani fleet, blocking properties and enforcing strict compliance with U.S. regulations. Violations of U.S. sanctions could lead to severe penalties, underscoring the Treasury's commitment to enforcing economic restrictions and promoting compliance.The Treasury emphasizes that the ultimate goal of these sanctions is to bring about a positive change in behavior, encouraging compliance with international norms. The process for seeking removal from an OFAC list is available for those willing to engage in lawful practices.