Washington sanctions Houthi-linked vessel

The US has sanctioned one vessel, along with 21 individuals and entities, for supporting Yemen’s Houthi group through oil product and weapons transfers.

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The US Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has sanctioned several companies based in Oman, Yemen and the UAE, that are allegedly a part of the Iran-backed militant group’s “vast revenue generation and smuggling networks,” it said.

These facilitators “enable the group [Houthis] to sustain its capability to conduct destabilizing regional activities and unprovoked attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea,” OFAC added.

OFAC has identified Al Sharafi Oil Companies Services and Adeema Oil FZC as major Houthi oil and gas facilitators based in the UAE. These companies allegedly receive financial support from the Iranian government, the US body said.

Another UAE-based company – Alsaa Petroleum and Shipping – has facilitated major financial transactions between the Iranian government and Houthi-affiliated oil companies, according to OFAC.

“Despite the pressure of international sanctions, the Houthis continue to acquire a significant amount of revenue through illicit oil sales, generating over $2 billion annually,” OFAC said.

The latest targets also include one vessel, ALBARRAQ Z, for delivering oil products to Ras Isa port in July 2025.

“As part of the Houthi oil sales operation, the Iranian government both sells and provides a free monthly shipment of oil to the Houthis using Iranian-owned or affiliated companies based in Dubai, UAE,” the US Treasury added.

Since January 2025, the Donald Trump-led US administration has sanctioned more than 180 vessels responsible for illegally shipping Iranian petroleum and petroleum products, OFAC said earlier.

By Aparupa Mazumder

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