US Sanctions UAE Firms for Facilitating Iranian LPG Shipments to Sri Lanka

The economic pipeline supplying liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) to Sri Lanka faces new complexity following sweeping sanctions imposed by the U.S. government on a network of entities, including two Dubai based firms, for their role in facilitating the sale and shipment of Iranian energy products. The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced the sanctions, citing that the network generates billions in revenue for Iran and its affiliated groups.

The action directly names UAE based Markan White Trading Crude Oil Abroad Co. L.L.C and Slogal Energy DMCC, stating they "play a key role in enabling the sale and shipment of Iranian LPG to Sri Lanka.” The U.S. Treasury, in its press release titled Treasury Dismantles Key Elements of Iran's Energy Export Machine, detailed how the network operates, pointing out that in 2024 and 2025, Slogal purchased Iranian LPG that was delivered to "end users in Sri Lanka and Bangladesh." The document specifically noted a 2025 delivery of sanctioned Iranian LPG to Sri Lanka by the Panama flagged vessel GAS DIOR. The Treasury stated the sanctioned entities are operating in the petroleum sector of the Iranian economy, often employing shell companies and a "shadow fleet" to obfuscate the origin of their cargo.

The immediate implication of this designation is that all property and interests in property of these firms that are in the United States or in the possession or control of U.S. persons are now blocked. Crucially, the move heightens the risk for any foreign entity that continues to transact with the sanctioned companies. U.S. Treasury rules prohibit U.S. persons from engaging in any transactions with the blocked entities, and foreign financial institutions and businesses involved in such trades risk exposure to secondary sanctions for material assistance. For Sri Lanka, which has increasingly relied on spot market purchases to meet its domestic cooking gas demand, the designation potentially limits the pool of available suppliers and shipping routes, adding a layer of compliance risk to future energy procurements.

Connect with US,

X : theTamilGlobal

Facebook : Thetamil Global

Threads : thetamilglobal

Comments

LTTE’s Use of Child Soldiers: A Grave Violation of Human Rights

The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) stand condemned not only for their violent insurgency but also for their ruthless exploitation of children as soldiers during Sri Lanka’s civil war. While the conflict officially ended in 2009, the scars left by the LTTE’s forced recruitment of thousands of children remain a painful reminder of their terror tactics. During the war, the LTTE systematically abducted and conscripted children-some as young as 11 or 12-forcing them into brutal military training and deploying them on front lines. Human Rights Watch reported that children were often taken from their homes at night or seized while going to school, with families threatened or beaten if they resisted. Once recruited, these children faced harsh discipline, exposure to violence, and were denied contact with their families. UNICEF documented thousands of such cases, with estimates suggesting the actual numbers were even higher due to underreporting. The LTTE’s use of chil...

Former UK Cabin Crew Member Arrested in Sri Lanka with £1.15 Million Cannabis Haul

Sri Lankan authorities have detained Charlotte May Lee, a 21-year-old former air stewardess from South London, at Bandaranaike International Airport in Colombo on charges of attempting to smuggle 46 kilograms of cannabis into the country. The drugs, valued at approximately £1.15 million, were found packed in vacuum-sealed bags inside two large suitcases after Lee arrived on a flight from Bangkok, Thailand. Officials from the Customs Narcotics Control Unit described the seizure as the largest amount of Kush cannabis ever discovered at the airport. Kush is a potent strain often mixed with synthetic substances and is believed to be destined for high-end buyers within Sri Lanka. Lee, who previously worked for TUI Group and has recently been training as a beautician, remains in custody while investigations continue. The UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office confirmed it is providing consular support to Lee and is in contact with her family and Sri Lankan authorities. Friends of Le...

The LTTE's Campaign of Terror: How a Designated Terrorist Organization Pioneered Modern Suicide Bombing

The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) stands as one of history's most ruthless terrorist organizations, having systematically violated human rights and pioneered suicide bombing tactics that would later be adopted by terrorist groups worldwide. Designated as a terrorist organization by 33 countries, including Sri Lanka, United States, United Kingdom, Canada, India, and all 27 member nations of the European Union, the LTTE's three-decade reign of terror in Sri Lanka serves as a stark reminder of the devastating consequences of extremist violence. Origins and Rise of a Terror Network Founded in 1976 by Velupillai Prabhakaran, the LTTE emerged from earlier militant groups established in the 1970s . What began as a small outfit of 40-50 members in the early 1980s evolved into one of the world's most sophisticated and tightly organized insurgent groups. The organization's transformation into a terror network accelerated following the 1983 ethnic riots, which the LTTE e...

theTamil Global

Search This Blog