Who are the Indian nationals among the 50 entities sanctioned by the US for helping Iran’s energy trade?

The United States has imposed sanctions on more than 50 individuals, companies and vessels, including three Indian nationals, accused of facilitating Iran’s energy exports, according to the US Treasury Department.

The Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) said in a statement on Thursday, October 9 that the move was aimed at disrupting what it described as “key elements” of Tehran’s “energy export machine.”

The department targeted networks that collectively have helped Iran export billions of dollars worth of petroleum and related products. It says this revenue has been used to “support terrorist groups that threaten the United States.”

,“This action targets approximately two dozen shadow fleet vessels, a China-based crude oil terminal and an independent “teapot” refinery, as well as networks moving hundreds of millions of dollars worth of Iranian LPG, which are critical to Iran’s ability to export petroleum and petroleum products to generate significant revenues,” the Treasury Department statement said.

,“The Treasury Department is reducing Iran’s cash flows by disrupting key elements of Iran’s energy export machine,” the statement quoted US Treasury Secretary Scott Besant as saying.

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Indian citizens approved

Varun Pulla – Bertha Shipping Inc.

According to OFAC, Indian national Varun Pula is the owner of Marshall Islands-based Bertha Shipping Inc., which operated the Comoros-flagged ship PAMIR.

From July 2024, PAMIR has delivered approximately four million barrels of Iranian liquefied petroleum gas (LNG) to China. Bertha Shipping Inc and its vessels have been identified as blocked assets under the new measures.

The Treasury Department said Pula has been designated for acting directly or indirectly for or on behalf of Bertha Shipping Inc.

Soniya Shrestha – Vega Star Ship Management Pvt Ltd

Sonia Shrestha, another Indian national, is the owner of Vega Star Ship Management Pvt Ltd, based in India. According to the department, the company manages the Comoros-flagged ship NEPTA which is involved in carrying Iranian-origin LPG to Pakistan from January 2025.

OFAC has designated both Shrestha and Vega Star Ship Management for operations in the Iranian petroleum sector, blocking all assets linked to them within US jurisdiction.

Ayyappan Raja – AV Lines Inc

The sanctions list also includes Iyappan Raja, owner of Marshall Islands-based AV Lines Inc., which operated Panama-flagged Sapphire Gas. The ship has reportedly delivered more than one million barrels of Iranian LPG to China since April 2025.

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Like Pula and Shrestha, King has been designated under Executive Order 13902 for its association with AV Lines Inc.

Implications of sanctions

According to OFAC, all “property and interests in property” of designated individuals and companies located within the US or in the possession or control of US persons are now blocked and must be reported to OFAC.

Any entity owned 50% or more by one or more sanctioned persons, directly or indirectly, could also be blocked, the Treasury Department said.

Furthermore, all transactions involving these blocked entities are prohibited for US persons unless authorized by OFAC.

Violation of these restrictions may result in civil or criminal penalties. The department said the ultimate goal of the sanctions is “not to punish” but to “change behavior.”