Treasury sanctions more IRISL front companies

Treasury sanctions more IRISL front companies    The U.S. Treasury Department on Tuesday placed sanctions on four top Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines executives and eight front companies located on the Isle of Man for supporting Iran’s weapons of mass destruction program and carrying military cargoes.
   Treasury said the goal of the sanctions is to isolate these companies from U.S. financial and commercial systems.
   “As long as Iran uses front companies, cutouts and other forms of deception to hide its illicit activities, we intend to expose this conduct and thereby counteract Iran’s attempts to evade U.S. and international sanctions,” said Stuart Levey, undersecretary for terrorism and financial intelligence, in statement. “Today’s actions will help governments, banks and other private companies around the world ensure that they do not inadvertently facilitate Iran’s proliferation and support for terrorism.”
   IRISL front companies designated Tuesday are:
   ' Ashtead Shipping Co. Ltd.
   ' Byfleet Shipping Co. Ltd.
   ' Cobham Shipping Co. Ltd.
   ' Dorking Shipping Co. Ltd.
   ' Effingham Shipping Co. Ltd.
   ' Farnham Shipping Co. Ltd.
   ' Gomshall Shipping Co. Ltd.
   ' Horsham Shipping Co. Ltd.
   Each company is owned by IRISL and each is the registered owner of a vessel previously identified on Treasury’s Specially Designated Nationals List as blocked property of IRISL or an IRISL-affiliated company. The director of all eight front companies, Ahmad Sarkandi, was designated by Treasury in October for providing services to several IRISL-affiliated companies.
   Mohhammad Hossein Dajmar, designated Tuesday, is chairman and managing director of IRISL and three previously designated front companies — Safiran Payam Darya Shipping Co. (SAPID), Hafiz Darya Shipping Co. (HDS), and Soroush Sarzamin Asatir Ship Management Co. (SSA). Also designated are Gholamhossein Golparvar, managing director of SAPID and a director of SSA and HDS, as well as Hassan Jalil Zadeh, managing director of HDS. Mohammad Hadi Pajand, company secretary of Irinvestship Ltd., and a company director of Lancelin Shipping Co. Ltd. — two previously designated IRISL affiliates — was also designated by Treasury.
   Including this latest action, Treasury has now designated nearly 80 IRISL front companies and affiliates and has identified more than 100 ships as being the property of IRISL or its front companies and affiliates.