Singapore Bunker Supplier Added to U.S. Sanctions List

The U.S. says it continues to take action against sanction violators

U.S. officials have designated five firms, including Singapore based bunker supplier Mid Oil Asia, as violators of International sanctions against Iran, the U.S. Department of State has said.

The Departments of the Treasury and State say Mid Oil Asia made payments for the National Iranian Tanker Co. (NITC), including helping the Iranian company to transfer funds to an Egypt-based company while concealing the connection to Iran.

Singapore-based Singa Tankers and Siqiriya Maritime Corp. of the Philippines were also added to the list for "providing material support to NITC."

Ferland Co. Ltd. of the Ukraine, which had previously been subject to U.S. treasury sanctions over connections to NITC, was also listed, along with that company's general manager, Vitaly Sokolenko.

The designations "generally prohibit transactions between the designees and any U.S. person, and freeze any assets they may currently have or that come under U.S. jurisdiction," as well as subjecting any foreign parties working with them to potential penalties, the U.S. statement said.

"Today's actions should be a stark reminder to businesses, banks and brokers everywhere that we will continue relentlessly to enforce our sanctions, even as we explore the possibility of a long-term, comprehensive resolution of our concerns with Iran's nuclear program," said Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence David S. Cohen.

U.S. rules that took effect in July expanded sanctions to include bunkering or providing services to Iranian vessels.