The U.S. Department of the Treasury, through the Office of Foreign Assets Control, announced sanctions against twenty-one individuals and entities, in addition to the listing of one vessel, for their involvement in supporting, financing, and arming the Iran-backed Houthi group.
The Treasury reported that these sanctioned networks are involved in oil smuggling, money laundering, and the purchase of weapons and dual-use equipment, confirming that these operations are used to finance Houthi attacks and undermine regional stability, including attacks targeting navigation in the Red Sea.
It also indicated that the Houthis generate more than $2 billion annually from the illegal sale of oil, with the support of channels related to the Iranian government.
The sanctions included oil companies and financial exchanges, as well as networks operating in arms smuggling, including attempts to smuggle anti-armor missiles, as well as airline companies seeking to purchase aircraft for use in smuggling and revenue generation.
The measures also included shipping companies and ship captains who continued to deliver petroleum products to Houthi-controlled ports after the expiration of humanitarian licenses, in violation of the restrictions imposed on transactions.
Under these sanctions, all assets within U.S. jurisdiction will be frozen, and any transactions with the listed individuals and entities will be prohibited, with warnings of civil and criminal penalties for any parties that violate these restrictions.
