On January 12,2024,the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) of the U.S.Department of Commerce implemented new sanctions aimed at combating the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps - Quds Force (IRGC-QF)’s support for the Houthi rebels in Yemen.The sanctions target two shipping companies and four vessels that are part of a network allegedly supporting the IRGC-QF and providing financial assistance to the Houthis.

The sanctioned companies are Hong Kong-based CIELO MARINE LTD (also known as CIELO MARINE LIMITED),located at Room 6,17th Floor,Wellborne Commercial Centre,8 Java Road,North Point,Hong Kong; and GLOBAL TECH MARINE SERVICES INC,registered at 96960 Ajeltake Road,Ajeltake Island,Majuro,Marshall Islands,with an office on the 8th Floor of Alunco Building,Sheikh Zayed Road,Dubai,UAE.

The four sanctioned vessels include:

FORTUNE GALAXY (Flag: Panama,Vessel Type: Crude Oil Tanker,IMO: 3E2520);

MEHLE (Flag: Panama,Vessel Type: Crude Oil Tanker,IMO: 3E3893);

MOLECULE (Flag: Cameroon,Vessel Type: Crude Oil Tanker,IMO: TJMC241);

SINCERE 02 (Flag: Kiribati,Vessel Type: Product Tanker,IMO: 3E4733).

These sanctions are part of U.S.government efforts to disrupt the IRGC-QF and its support network,aiming to block Irans illegal maritime activities that fund the Houthis.The U.S.government identifies the IRGC-QF and its network as involved in selling Iranian commodities to generate revenue for the Houthis and IRGC-QF.