US reinstates Iran naval blockade, hits Shamkhani Shipping Network with sweeping sanctions

The United States has dramatically escalated its pressure campaign against Tehran by placing extensive sanctions on Iran’s shadow trading system just hours after reinstating a full naval blockade on all Iranian ports. The US Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated more than 50 individuals, entities and vessels tied to the prominent Shamkhani shipping network. Treasury officials described the international network as a vital economic engine facilitating illicit oil exports and global containerised shipping evasion. Concurrently, US Central Command (CENTCOM) deployed over 20 warships and hundreds of aircraft to intercept, divert or capture any non-compliant commercial traffic attempting to trade along the Iranian coastline. The dual economic and military offensive follows the collapse of an interim maritime memorandum of understanding after recent missile skirmishes and dark-fleet operations disrupted traffic through the critical Strait of Hormuz chokepoint, according to a report.

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