The United States has taken a decisive step in its pressure campaign against Iran, imposing new sanctions on several Indian individuals and companies allegedly involved in the trade of Iranian petroleum products. According to the US Departments of State and Treasury, the revenue generated from these transactions has been helping fuel Iran’s regional militant operations and weapons procurement efforts—activities Washington describes as a direct threat to American interests and global stability.
The sanctions target shipping networks, aviation affiliates, and commercial operators that the US says have been instrumental in supporting Iran’s illicit oil sales. These operations, officials noted, form the financial backbone of Tehran’s “malign activities” across the Middle East.
Among those newly listed under the Treasury Department’s Specially Designated Nationals roster are Indian nationals Zair Husain Iqbal Husain Sayed and Zulfikar Hussain Rizvi Sayed, along with Maharashtra-based RN Ship Management Private Limited and Pune-based TR6 Petro India LLP.
The State Department has also designated 17 additional entities, vessels, and individuals across several countries—such as India, Panama, and the Seychelles—accused of facilitating Iranian petroleum transactions. In parallel, the Treasury Department has sanctioned 41 more entities and assets, expanding its efforts to curb Iran’s petroleum and petrochemical exports.
A key focus is TR6 Petro India LLP, which, between October 2024 and June 2025, reportedly imported more than USD 8 million worth of Iranian-origin bitumen. US officials say this activity constitutes knowingly participating in significant petroleum-related transactions linked to Iran, reinforcing the company’s inclusion under the sanctions.
According to the State Department, the money generated through Iran’s oil trade continues to bankroll destabilizing actions—nuclear escalation, support for regional terrorist proxies, and disruptions to vital global shipping corridors. These waterways, they emphasize, remain central to international commerce and global economic health.
Washington stated that it will keep aggressively pursuing maritime service providers, dark fleet operators, and petroleum traders facilitating Iranian crude transport. The actions fall under National Security Presidential Memorandum 2 (NSPM-2), which mandates maximum pressure on Iran to restrict access to resources used in destabilizing efforts.
In its statement, the US reiterated its stance: it will continue disrupting financial pipelines that empower Iran’s militant activities. Until Tehran ceases funding attacks on US and allied forces, supporting global terrorism, and engaging in actions that undermine regional peace, American authorities say they will use every available tool to enforce accountability.
