US sanctions two Indians over alleged ties with Houthis.
Under the sanctions, all properties and assets owned by the two individuals in the United States are frozen. This includes any entities in which they hold a more than 50 percent ownership interest. The action restricts them from conducting financial transactions or accessing their assets within the US. Additionally, any person or entity found assisting these individuals may face penalties. The US government’s move aims to curb alleged support for the Houthis by disrupting financial networks linked to them. These sanctions reflect broader efforts to limit resources flowing to groups associated with terrorism or activities that threaten regional stability.
The U.S. has imposed sanctions on two Indian nationals for their involvement in a network allegedly linked to the Houthis, responsible for transporting Iranian oil to generate funds for activities disrupting. The individuals, identified as Rahul Rattanlal Warikoo Rattanlal and Dipankar Mohan Keot, are associated with Sharjah-based Indo Gulf Ship Management (IGSM), where Rattanlal serves as Managing Director and Keot as Technical Manager, according to the U.S. Treasury Department.
As part of the sanctions, all property and assets owned by these individuals in the U.S. are frozen, including any entities in which they have more than a 50 percent ownership interest. This move effectively prevents them from accessing or conducting financial transactions within the U.S. State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller stated that the two Indians had connections to the network led by Houthi financial operative Sa’id al-Jamal, who is allegedly supported by the Iran-based Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Qods Force (IRGC-QF).
The Treasury Department noted that Indo Gulf Ship Management was the operator of a vessel used by al-Jamal’s network to transport millions of dollars’ worth of Iranian oil. The department’s findings reveal Rattanlal’s roles in other U.S.-designated companies such as Safe Seas Ship Management FZE and Aurum Ship Management FZC, which have allegedly been involved in shipping oil for Iran’s Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics (MODAFL) and the al-Jamal network. These activities are said to contribute to circumventing international sanctions on Iran.
Keot’s role as Technical Manager at Indo Gulf Ship Management involves overseeing vessel operations, budgets, and expenses for ships under the company’s management. The U.S. Treasury also disclosed that IGSM manages the Barbados-flagged vessel Kukki and holds a financial interest in it. Bradley T. Smith, Acting Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, emphasized that the Houthis depend on al-Jamal’s international network and associated facilitators to transport and sell Iranian oil, thus sustaining their ongoing campaign of violence.
The Houthis, a Shia political movement and militia controlling significant areas of Yemen, including the capital Sana’a, have reportedly carried out attacks targeting shipping routes in the Red Sea, which is a vital passageway connecting Asia to the Suez Canal. These actions have disrupted maritime trade and escalated regional tensions. The Houthis are also accused of launching missile strikes against Israel, further fueling the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
The sanctions against the two Indian nationals come amid a broader U.S. strategy to curb the Houthis’ access to funding sources. Last week, the U.S. targeted Mumbai-based Gabbaro Ship Services Private Ltd for allegedly facilitating a significant transaction related to the transportation of Iranian crude oil by acting as the technical manager for the oil tanker Hornet. This measure is part of Washington’s initiative to dismantle the so-called “Ghost Fleet,” which refers to a network of ships involved in the covert movement of Iran’s sanctioned oil to buyers worldwide.
National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan reiterated the U.S. commitment to countering illicit oil trade and financial networks that enable terrorist activities. He emphasized that the recent sanctions are aimed at impeding the Houthis’ capabilities and disrupting their supply chains linked to Iran’s oil exports.
These measures highlight the ongoing challenges in the region, where multiple actors, including state and non-state entities, continue to engage in proxy conflicts. The Houthis, backed by Iran, have been accused of not only targeting civilian areas but also posing threats to international trade by disrupting vital maritime routes. The U.S. Treasury Department’s actions aim to weaken these networks, cut off financial resources, and hold accountable those facilitating illegal oil shipments and funding armed conflicts.
The Houthis’ activities, along with the broader geopolitical tensions involving Iran and its allies, have further complicated the situation in the Middle East. The U.S. has underscored the need for international cooperation in countering threats posed by sanctioned entities and preventing the flow of resources that fuel violence and instability in the region. The recent sanctions reflect these efforts and signal a strong stance against those who engage in or support actions threatening global security and economic interests.