US Imposes New Sanctions on Houthi-Linked Entities Involved in Weapons Procurement and Illicit Oil Shipments
The US Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has recently imposed sanctions targeting weapons procurement linked to the Houthi movement and vessels involved in illicit oil shipments supporting Houthi and Iranian activities.
The sanctions affect one individual and three companies from Iran and China that have played significant roles in supplying materials for advanced missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to the Houthis.
This action is part of a broader strategy against weapons procurement and smuggling operations that have facilitated Houthi attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. The sanctioned entities include several Chinese companies and an Iranian operative. Shenzhen Boyu Imports and Exports Co., Limited, a Chinese logistics firm, was designated for its role in shipping dual-use components to Houthi militants. Two additional Chinese companies, Shenzhen Jinghon Electronics Limited and Shenzhen Rion Technology Co., Ltd., were targeted for providing critical components for Houthi missile and UAV production. Hasan Ahmad Hasan Muhammad al-Kuhlani, an operative based in Iran, was also sanctioned for coordinating weapons smuggling efforts for the Houthis.
Moreover, OFAC sanctioned Gemini Marine Limited and identified two of its vessels, IZUMO and FRUNZE, for their involvement in illicit oil shipments supporting Houthi and Iranian activities. The IZUMO has been transporting petroleum products for Sepehr Energy Jahan Nama Pars Company, a front company for the Iranian Armed Forces, and has also been linked to shipments for a network associated with Sa’id al-Jamal, a sanctioned Houthi financial official.
Bradley T. Smith, Acting Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, stated, “The Houthis continue to leverage their networks of companies and procurement operatives to sustain their reckless attacks on civilian vessels, their unarmed crews, and civilian populations.”
These sanctions are enacted under Executive Order 13224, which targets terrorist organizations and their supporters, building on previous OFAC measures against Houthi weapons procurement operatives and suppliers in various countries.
