Marine Vessels

The tanker RANI has been involved in the transport of Iranian-origin crude oil to the People’s Republic of China (PRC), including through ship-to-ship (STS) transfers with the designated vessel IMO 9569700. In addition, in 2024, the vessel was engaged in the export of russian-origin oil and petroleum products from the russian port of Kozmino. On 16 April 2025, the United States designated the tanker IMO 9250907 for its role in sanctions evasion.
Since December 13, 2025, Ukraine has imposed sanctions on the vessel.

The tanker has been involved in the transport of Iranian-origin crude oil to the People’s Republic of China (PRC), including deliveries to the Shandong Shengxing Chemical Co. Ltd. refinery. Its operations include ship-to-ship (STS) transfers with designated vessels engaged in Iranian oil shipments.
In early 2025, the vessel received several hundred thousand barrels of Iranian crude via STS transfer from the sanctioned tanker IMO 9569700, which was designated by the United States on 11 October 2024.
Many tankers involved in transporting Iranian oil to countries such as China are also involved in Venezuelan trade, including tanker IMO 9242120. On June 11, 2022, Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and former Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi signed a 20-year cooperation agreement to expand ties in the oil and petrochemical industries, as well as in the military and economic spheres. Since then, bilateral ties have begun to develop. Most cargo is transported by ships belonging to the sanctioned National Iranian Tanker Company (NITC) in both directions. A significant number of ships flying under foreign (non-Iranian) flags are also involved in this trade.
On 16 April 2025, the United States designated the tanker IMO 9242120 for its role in sanctions evasion involving Iranian oil.
The tanker belongs to the Panamanian company Civic Capital Shipping Inc (Panama Folio Number - (MERCANTIL) Folio Nº 155754670). This company is affiliated with Hector Varela De Leon. Hector Varela De Leon is the founder of the Panamanian company Civic Capital Shipping Inc. Hector Varela De Leon is associated with the incorporation and management of a number of shell companies, including those that are part of the vast shipping empire of Iranian oil magnate and major arms supplier to russia Mohammad Hossein Shamkhani, son of Ali Shamkhani, former Iranian defense minister and chief political adviser to Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Hector Varela de Leon is the founder and director of a number of companies that own, among other things, tankers belonging to the shadow fleet of the russian federation and Iran. On July 30, 2025, the United States imposed sanctions on Hector Varela de Leon for his activities in the oil sector of the Iranian economy.
Since December 13, 2025, Ukraine has imposed sanctions on the vessel.

The Very Large Crude Carrier (VLCC)-class tanker AMOR was the leading transporter of Iranian oil in 2024.
On 10 April 2025, the United States designated the vessel pursuant to its role in sanctions evasion involving Iranian-origin crude.

The vessel is affiliated with the sanctioned individual Brar Jugwinder Singh through the sanctioned company Glory International FZ-LLC, of which he is the director and owner. Brar, through his companies, owns, operates, or manages a fleet of nearly 30 oil and petroleum product tankers, most of which are Handysize-class tankers operating in coastal waters and carrying only a fraction of the cargo capacity of larger tankers. He uses these smaller vessels for ship-to-ship (STS) transfers to load Iranian oil from other shadow fleet vessels or to load oil or fuel smuggled from smaller commercial and fishing vessels.
Brar has coordinated with the illicit shipping associates of Houthi financial official Said al-Jamal on sanctions evasion tactics, including the use of smaller vessels instead of large oil tankers to conceal the smuggling of Iranian oil in the Persian Gulf and Khor al-Zubair (Iraq) and surrounding areas.
On April 10, 2025, the United States imposed sanctions on the vessel as property in which Glory International FZ-LLC has an interest.
According to the IMO’s Global Integrated Shipping Information System (GISIS) data as of July 14, 2025, the vessel’s registered name is CHIL 1, and its flag is listed as "Aruba False."

The vessel is affiliated with a sanctioned person, Brar Jugwinder Singh, through a sanctioned company, Glory International FZ-LLC, of which he is a director and owner. Brar, through its companies, owns, operates or manages a fleet of nearly 30 oil and petroleum product tankers, most of which are Handysize tankers that stick to coastal waters and carry a fraction of the cargo of larger tankers. Brar uses the smaller tankers for STS transfers to load Iranian oil from other shadow fleet vessels or to load oil or fuel that is smuggled from smaller commercial and fishing vessels. Thus, Brar coordinated with the illegal shipping associates of Houthi financial official Said al-Jamal on sanctions evasion tactics, including the use of smaller vessels instead of large oil tankers to conceal the smuggling of Iranian oil in the Persian Gulf and Khor al-Zubair (Iraq) and their environs.
On April 10, 2025, USA imposed sanctions on the vessel as a property in which Glory International FZ-LLC has an interest.

The vessel is affiliated with a sanctioned person, Brar Jugwinder Singh, through a sanctioned company, Glory International FZ-LLC, of which he is a director and owner. Brar, through its companies, owns, operates or manages a fleet of nearly 30 oil and petroleum product tankers, most of which are Handysize tankers that stick to coastal waters and carry a fraction of the cargo of larger tankers. Brar uses the smaller tankers for STS transfers to load Iranian oil from other shadow fleet vessels or to load oil or fuel that is smuggled from smaller commercial and fishing vessels. Thus, Brar coordinated with the illegal shipping associates of Houthi financial official Said al-Jamal on sanctions evasion tactics, including the use of smaller vessels instead of large oil tankers to conceal the smuggling of Iranian oil in the Persian Gulf and Khor al-Zubair (Iraq) and their environs.
On April 10, 2025, USA imposed sanctions on the vessel as a property in which Glory International FZ-LLC has an interest.

The tanker is affiliated with the sanctioned Indian company Global Tankers Private Limited, which is controlled by designated individual Jugwinder Singh Brar. Mr. Brar owns several shipping companies operating a combined fleet of nearly 30 vessels, most of which are reported to operate as part of Iran’s shadow fleet. Global Tankers acts as the owner or technical/operational manager of several vessels within the Brar-controlled fleet. On 10 April 2025, the United States imposed sanctions on the vessel IMO 9005338 as property of the designated entity Global Tankers Private Limited.

The vessel is involved in the provision of fuel oil bunkering services for ships in Iranian waters under contracts worth millions of dollars signed during 2024 with the sanctioned National Iranian Oil Company, which provides material support to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Forces.
The vessel is affiliated with a sanctioned person, Brar Jugwinder Singh, through a sanctioned company, Glory International FZ-LLC, of which he is a director and owner. Brar, through its companies, owns, operates or manages a fleet of nearly 30 oil and petroleum product tankers, most of which are Handysize tankers that stick to coastal waters and carry a fraction of the cargo of larger tankers. Brar uses the smaller tankers for STS transfers to load Iranian oil from other shadow fleet vessels or to load oil or fuel that is smuggled from smaller commercial and fishing vessels. Thus, Brar coordinated with the illegal shipping associates of Houthi financial official Said al-Jamal on sanctions evasion tactics, including the use of smaller vessels instead of large oil tankers to conceal the smuggling of Iranian oil in the Persian Gulf and Khor al-Zubair (Iraq) and their environs.
On April 10, 2025, USA imposed sanctions on the vessel as a property in which Glory International FZ-LLC has an interest.

The vessel is affiliated with the designated individual Brar Jugwinder Singh through the designated company Glory International FZ-LLC, of which he is both director and owner. Through his companies, Brar owns, operates, or manages a fleet of nearly 30 oil and petroleum product tankers, most of them Handysize-class vessels that operate in coastal waters and carry only a fraction of the cargo of larger tankers. Brar employs these smaller tankers for ship-to-ship (STS) transfers to load Iranian oil from other vessels in the shadow fleet, or to load oil and fuel smuggled from smaller commercial and fishing vessels.
Brar has coordinated with illicit shipping associates of Houthi financial official Said al-Jamal on sanctions-evasion tactics, including the use of smaller vessels in place of large oil tankers to conceal the smuggling of Iranian oil in the Persian Gulf and in the area of Khor al-Zubair (Iraq) and its vicinity.
On 10 April 2025, the United States imposed sanctions on the vessel as property in which the designated Glory International FZ-LLC holds an interest.

The vessel is affiliated with a sanctioned person, Brar Jugwinder Singh, through a sanctioned company, Glory International FZ-LLC, of which he is a director and owner. Brar, through its companies, owns, operates or manages a fleet of nearly 30 oil and petroleum product tankers, most of which are Handysize tankers that stick to coastal waters and carry a fraction of the cargo of larger tankers. Brar uses the smaller tankers for STS transfers to load Iranian oil from other shadow fleet vessels or to load oil or fuel that is smuggled from smaller commercial and fishing vessels. Thus, Brar coordinated with the illegal shipping associates of Houthi financial official Said al-Jamal on sanctions evasion tactics, including the use of smaller vessels instead of large oil tankers to conceal the smuggling of Iranian oil in the Persian Gulf and Khor al-Zubair (Iraq) and their environs.
On April 10, 2025, USA imposed sanctions on the vessel as a property in which Glory International FZ-LLC has an interest.

The tanker is affiliated with the sanctioned shipping company Yug Shipping Inc (Marshall Islands), which was designated by the United States on July 30, 2025, for providing material assistance, sponsorship, or financial, material, or technological support, as well as goods or services, to or in support of Mohammad Hossein Shamkhani.
Mohammad Hossein Shamkhani is the son of Ali Shamkhani, the chief political advisor to Iran’s supreme leader. Leveraging his father’s political influence, Mohammad Hossein Shamkhani has corrupted senior Iranian regime officials to build and operate a vast fleet of tankers and container ships. This fleet transports oil and petroleum products from Iran and russia, as well as other cargoes, to customers worldwide, generating tens of billions of dollars in profit.
His shipping network consists of a large fleet of vessels, ship management firms, and front companies that launder billions of dollars in proceeds from the global sale of Iranian and russian crude oil and petroleum products, primarily to buyers in the People’s Republic of China. The network takes extensive measures to conceal its operations and obscure its connections to the Shamkhani family, Iran, and russia.
The tanker is also affiliated with the sanctioned company Wanta Shipping LLC-FZ (UAE), one of several entities that have played a major role in managing and operating the tanker fleet within the Shamkhani shipping network.
The United States imposed sanctions on the vessel on July 30, 2025.

On July 30, 2025, the United States imposed sanctions on the vessel for engaging in activities conducted on behalf of Mohammad Hossein Shamkhani.
Mohammad Hossein Shamkhani, the son of Ali Shamkhani – the chief political advisor to the Supreme Leader of Iran – leverages his father’s political influence to corrupt senior Iranian regime officials in order to build and operate a vast fleet of tankers and container ships. This fleet transports oil and petroleum products from Iran and russia, as well as other cargoes, to customers worldwide, generating tens of billions of dollars in profit.
His shipping network consists of an extensive fleet of vessels, ship management companies, and front entities that launder billions of dollars in proceeds from global sales of Iranian and russian crude oil and petroleum products, primarily to buyers in the People’s Republic of China. The network takes extensive measures to conceal its operations and obscure its connections to the Shamkhani family, Iran, and russia.