UAE

AA Energy FZCO is listed on the OFAC's Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) List.

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"The United States has placed sanctions on six individuals and four businesses for helping the government of Iran conceal its involvement in global oil deals, the U.S. Treasury said on Friday . . . Treasury said it was also sanctioning AA Energy FZCO, Petro Royal FZE, and KASB International LLC, all based in the United Arab Emirates, for helping Iran. Also, it sanctioned Swiss Management Services Sarl, which is used by NICO, and Mohammad Moinie, who works for Sarl in Switzerland." (Reuters, "U.S. sanctions companies, individuals for Iran oil deals," 9/6/13)

Good Luck Shipping is listed on OFAC's Specially Designated National's (SDN) List

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"The European Union is moving to a new approach in reinforcing its Iran sanctions regime in a bid to prevent legal challenges by companies from undermining the West's efforts to counter Tehran's nuclear program. In recent weeks, the EU has informed more than a dozen companies with ties to Iran that have won rulings against previous restrictions that it plans to target them with new sanctions, an EU official said…The EU also informed Good Luck Shipping Company LLC, a Dubai-based shipping agency, that it would be placed again on the sanctions list as an agent for Hafiz Darya Shipping Lines, 'a designated entity acting on behalf of IRISL.'" (Wall Street Journal, "EU Shifts Tactics to Bolster Iran Sanctions," 10/27/13)  

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"A European Union court ruled Friday against the bloc's asset freeze on seven companies allegedly linked to Iran's nuclear program, adding to concerns that legal challenges could undermine Western efforts to pressure Tehran over its nuclear policy . . . The court also struck down sanctions on Good Luck Shipping Co., a Dubai-based shipping company alleged by the EU to have acted for the sanctioned Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines, and on the latter company's former legal director, Naser Bateni." (Wall Street Journal, "Court Hands EU New Setback on Iran Sanctions," 9/6/13)

"According to the now deleted website of Dubai-based Arcology Investments, which listed Paymood and Niksima as its subsidiaries, Paymood has two LNG tankers that serve the Jam Petrochemicals complex. Jam has become a major target of U.S. sanctions, and was also named with Niksima in the sanctions handed down in May. The idea is that Iran may be instructing customers who buy products from Jam to pay companies like Niksima instead – companies that aren’t subject to sanctions or U.S. scrutiny but who provide other valuable services to Jam through a parent company such as Arcology and its other subsidiaries like Paymood. Niksima, in other words, may get money from Jam’s customers in exchange for the services Paymood provides to Jam. This is how a frozen yogurt company could in theory get tied up with Iran’s energy industry."  (The Wall Street Journal, "Dubai Frozen Yoghurt Firm Feels Iran Sanction Chill," 7/15/2013) 

"The government of Zanzibar terminated its agency agreement with Philtex (Belize) Ltd, which is based in Dubai, effective from 13 October, 2014. Philtex had an exclusive ten year contract to manage the Tanzania Zanzibar International Register of Shipping (TZIRS). In a notice issued by Dr Malik Akil Juma, the principal secretary at the Ministry of Infrastructure and Communications, he said that the 'government was setting up an administrative office to manage TZIRS in Sharjah, UAE supported in marketing on specific agreement by Alkhaleej Industries FZE, UAE'. All ships registered under the TZIRS flag are now required to report to the Zanzibar Maritime Authority within two months. The US government has mounted pressure on the Zanzibar government, the semi-autonomous island off of Tanzania, over the past couple of years to sever ties with Philtex following allegations that the agency was registering Iranian vessels under the Tanzanian flag, despite sanctions against Iran. Zanzibar signed an agreement with Philtex in 2007, registering about 406 ships. Last year, Minister for Infrastructure and Communication, Rashid Seif Suleiman informed the House of Representatives that it had deregistered 33 Iranian oil tankers." (IHS Maritime, "Zanzibar severs ties with Philtex agency," 11/27/14)

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"Philtex will in the near future, no longer be Zanzibar’s agent for registering international ships, the Minister for Infrastructure and Communication, Mr Rashid Seif Suleiman informed the House of Representatives. 'We are now in the process of breaking the contract with Philtex. Soon the company will no longer be our registrar for international ships,' said Rashid when responding to furious backbenchers who demanded to know how the government has been benefiting from Philtex. He said that Philtex’s unconvincing deals of registering Iranian tankers contrary to the EU/US led sanctions on Iran’s contested nuclear programme. PHILTEX Corporation Ltd is a United Arab Emirates company in Dubai – Deira, belonging to Ship Management & Registration industry. The minister said: 'We signed an agreement with Philtex in 2007, registering about 406 ships. But 60 ships have cancelled their registration with Zanzibar, 159 ships sold and we have deregistered 33 Iranian Oil tankers.' He said Zanzibar has 179 ships in its register ‘honestly’ paying annual fee to the Zanzibar Maritime Authority (ZMA), USD 150 for ships with tonnage not less than 459 and 10,000 tones paying USD 1,200. Last Thursday the Zanzibar Maritime Authority (ZMA) Director, Mr Abdi Maalim, said that in response to recent allegations that some Iranian tankers have been detected using Tanzanian identification codes, Zanzibar has asked all port authorities around the world to take stern measures against them. It has been reported that despite Zanzibar deregistering the tankers, at least three ships owned by the NITC have started emitting a wireless number starting with ‘677?’ the country code signalling a Tanzanian flag, according to shipping databases Marine Traffic and Fleetmon.The code can be used, for example, to give a distress signal. The vessels are also using a call sign – a unique identifier given by flag registration authorities – with a prefix that corresponds to the African country. 'I have written to our main urgent in Dubai ‘Philtex’ asking to be watchful. We have also sent letters containing the identification of all Iranian tankers of which we broke the contract with to some international ports so that they help us control misuse of our identity,' said Maalim. He said that his office has also written a letter of complaint to the Iran authorities in a bid to make sure that their ships do not use Tanzania flags or signal code. 'We are very concerned because it was Zanzibar which registered the ships,' he added." (Daily News, "Iranian Tankers Scandal: Isles to End Philtex Deal," 8/4/2013)

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"In response to recent fresh allegations that some Iranian tankers have been detected using Tanzanian identification codes, Zanzibar has asked all port authorities around the world to take stern measures against them. The Zanzibar Maritime Authority (ZMA) Director, Mr Abdi Maalim, said that what the Iranian tankers are doing is unacceptable . . . 'I have written to our main urgent in Dubai 'Philtex' asking to be watchful.'" (Daily News, "Zanzibar Raises Alarm Over Deregistered Iranian Tankers," 8/1/13)

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"The New York-based watchdog organisation United Against Nuclear Iran said 32 tankers of the blacklisted NITC, which owns the vessels that were deregistered last year, were still signalling the Tanzanian flag. The organisation played a key role in exposing links between Tanzania’s flag and Iran’s tankers, which the government had initially denied. It conceded only after evidence showed that Iran secured the cover through Zanzibar, which had contracted Philtex of Dubai to oversee its ship registration services. The incident triggered mounting international pressure for Tanzania to be penalised. Reflagging ships masks their ownership, which makes it easier for Iran to avoid attracting attention from the US and EU, which have embargoed its crude oil exports." (The Citizen, "Tanzania Probing Ship Flag Scandal," 7/27/2013)

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"'We are particularly concerned with the role that a US-based company, Philtex, seems to be playing in this flagging. As the agent of the Tanzania Zanzibar ship registry, it seems that Philtex is continuously granting Tanzanian flagging rights to the NITC’s newest and most capable super tankers, in violation of US sanctions,' UANI official Nathan Carleton told The Citizen on Sunday. Philtex was contracted by Zanzibar to oversee its ship registration services. After the flagging saga, the authorities said they had terminated the agreement. The Forbes report said the company officials claim Philtex was 'still managing the Tanzania Zanzibar shipping registry.'" (The Citizen, "Revealed: Iranian Ships Still Flying Tanzania Flag," 7/22/2013)

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"'Unfortunately, this sanctions fraud is perpetrated, at least in part, within the jurisdiction of the Emirate of Fujairah and its important port/bunkering hub, and with the assistance of a Dubai/United States-based criminal enterprise, Philtex Corporation (‘Philtex’), and its affiliate the American Register of Shipping (‘ARS’) that appears to predominantly operate in the Philippines,' UANI said." (The Washington Free Beacon, "A Well-Oiled Smuggling Machine," 4/17/2013) 

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""Iranian oil tankers are sending incorrect satellite signals that confuse global tracking systems and appear to conceal voyages made by other ships to Syria, which, like Iran, is subject to international sanctions. The two countries are close allies and have helped each other deal with shortages by swapping badly needed fuels such as gasoline for diesel... Iranian state tanker company NITC has already changed many tanker names as part of its response to sanctions, though shipping experts say such a tactic would not confuse anyone in the business about a vessel's whereabouts. Now tanker tracking data monitored by Reuters and shipping specialists have highlighted a more subtle twist. Large vessels must transmit their identity and location to other ships and coastal authorities using an automatic satellite communication system, but in the last month Iranian vessels sailing in Asian seas have sent signals that took over the identity of other vessels, so the same ship appeared to be in two places at once. 'It is of course possible to manipulate or falsify information in these messages,' said Richard Hurley, a senior analyst at IHS Fairplay, a maritime intelligence publisher. At least three Iranian oil tankers are transmitting such false signals, effectively taking over the identity of Syrian-owned vessels travelling between Syria, Libya and Turkey. All the vessels in question were registered in Tanzania... Despite all the paired vessels appearing to be registered under Tanzanian flags, officials in mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar denied holding any information on the vessels. They have directed queries to a shipping agency in Dubai, Philtex Corporation, which they say registered some Iranian ships under the Tanzanian flag without their knowledge. Philtex confirmed it had registered the Syrian-owned Lady Rasha, but could not provide details on the Iranian tankers in question... 'We have no idea and we cannot justify why they are emitting the same satellite signals,' said Jocelyn Acosta, director of operations at registering agency Philtex Corporation. Acosta said Philtex cooperated with requests made by United States government agencies and others to identify a ship's owner and had deregistered a number of vessels accordingly." (Reuters, "Exclusive: Iran shipping signals conceal Syria ship movement," 12/6/12)

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"Tanzania intends to cancel its contract with a Dubai-based shipping agent, saying the company reflagged Iranian ships with the Tanzanian flag without its knowledge, a minister for the semi-autonomous Zanzibar government said on Friday. The east African country said it was in the process of de-registering 36 Iranian vessels after an investigation into the origin of the ships concluded they were from Iran. As a semi-autonomous region, Zanzibar has the authority to register ships -- and has its own contract with Philtex Corporation -- which then fly the Tanzanian flag. Suleiman said Tanzanian Prime Minister Mizengo Pinda on Thursday informed the union's Parliament about Zanzibar's decision to terminate its contract with Philtex. U.S. lawmakers on Tuesday urged the U.S. government to take action against Tanzania for flouting sanctions against Iran, putting further pressure on the Tanzanian government to cease oil-related dealings with Tehran . . . Rashid Seif Suleiman, infrastructure and communication minister from Zanzibar, said his government would act to cancel its contract with Philtex that serves as the island's sole agent for the registration of ships.'We are de-registering the Iran ships first, then we will move to terminate our contract with Philtex,' Suleiman told Reuters by phone from Zanzibar. Reflagging ships masks their ownership, which could make it easier for Iran to obtain insurance and financing for the cargoes, as well as find buyers for the shipments without attracting attention from the United States and European Union. 'Philtex has had a valid 10-year contract with the Zanzibar government...my ministry is working with the Attorney General's Chambers in Zanzibar to look at all the legal implications,' Suleiman said. Philtex could not be reached for comment." (Reuters "Tanzania to drop agent over Iran ship reflagging," 8/17/12)

Maghami, an Iranian national, is also excited over the decision of western nations to lift sanctions on Iran and the business opportunities it opens up. Simatech, he said, plans to start a direct shipping service between India and Iran. (May 6, 2016).

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"Nevertheless, companies are uncomfortable. Dubai-based Simatech Shipping said this month it would cut services to and from Iran from June because of the new sanctions." (Reuters, "Iran faces fresh trade heat as more shipping firms exit," 5/7/2013) 

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Operates as a liner & feeder in Iranian ports.  (Ports and Maritime Organization: Shipping Lines which operating in Iranian Ports)

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Listed by the Iranian Ports and Maritime Organization as doing business with the Iranian Khadamat Saheli Iran.  (Ports & Maritime Organization: Companies Affairs Department: Liners)

Subsidiary of Noor Investment Group LLC.

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"The effort was particularly sensitive because the targeted institution in the United Arab Emirates is partly owned by the local government of Dubai, a close U.S. ally. The chairman of the bank, called the Noor Islamic Bank, is the son of Dubai's ruler. In mid-December, Noor agreed to close off what the people briefed on the operation characterized as Iran's single-largest channel for repatriating foreign-currency oil receipts—facilitating as much as 60% of Iran's foreign oil sales by late last year, they estimated... The U.S. targeted Noor Islamic Bank because it had been returning oil profits to Tehran via entities that have been sanctioned by the U.S. and European Union, including banks Saderat and Melli, these people said. In the week after Noor cut off these transactions, the Iranian rial's value fell by around 12% in relation to the dollar in currency markets, from 13,700 rial to the dollar to more than 15,000, according to traders. Trade in bazaars dried up. Many Iranians rushed to foreign currency or gold in black-market deals, and the rial has continued to fall... But the press to shut down Noor's Iran transactions, which the U.S. government hasn't publicly disclosed, was a main trigger, according to the people familiar with the operation. 'Noor was one of the most important channels that Iran was using to get its oil revenues,' said a person briefed on Treasury's action. 'It was a huge node.' A spokesman for Noor Islamic Bank said: 'As a U.A.E. bank, we comply with all U.A.E. Central Bank directives and regulations. We are in close contact with our trading partners in those countries that have imposed sanctions and we do not foresee any difficulties going ahead.' Representatives for the bank and its controlling family declined further comment... Noor emerged as a major center for Iran's oil business only last year, as more and more global banks began cutting off their financial ties to Tehran, said the people familiar with the matter... Last winter and summer, Indian officials openly talked about using Noor Islamic Bank to process its oil purchases from Iran as these other avenues shut down. 'We are exploring if Indian oil firms can open accounts in banks like Dubai-based Noor Islamic Bank, so they can undertake a direct transfer of money for oil they buy from Iran,' a senior Indian official told the Press Trust of India last April. Noor brought U.S. focus onto the U.A.E., a federation of seven monarchies including Dubai and Abu Dhabi, which has emerged as perhaps the most important front line in the West's financial campaign against Iran... Toward the end of last year, Noor Islamic Bank—whose chairman is Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al-Maktoum, the Dubai ruler's son—risked the distinction of becoming the first foreign entity sanctioned under Mr. Obama's 2010 legislation. Around that time, U.S. Treasury officials detected Iran moving its energy transactions into Noor Islamic Bank, according to people briefed on the action. Treasury officials raised their concerns about Noor's activities, both directly with the bank as well as with Dubai and Abu Dhabi monetary authorities, these people said... 'The U.A.E. government took the concerns very seriously and was helpful in resolving' the Noor Islamic Bank case, said the official briefed on the operation.'" (Wall Street Journal, "U.S. Cuts Iran Cash Pipeline," 2/29/2012)

"Some firms on the list already are the targets of federal sanctions. They include the state-run Petroleos de Venezuela, the Belorussian firm Belarusneft, China's Zhuhai Zhenrong Co., Singapore's FAL Oil Co. and Kuo Oil, and Switzerland-based Naftiran. Others, including Angola's Sonangol, reportedly have pulled out of Iran in response to international sanctions." (The Baltimore Sun, "22 companies are listed for alleged Iran ties, sanctions," 9/17/2012)

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"Iran's fuel oil exports fell nearly 50 percent from May to June, according to industry sources, adding to declines earlier this year and to the strain on Tehran's finances as sanctions have hit its oil trade…Western sanctions do not specifically ban the purchase of Iran's fuel oil but instead target the financing and shipping insurance needed to buy and transport Iranian cargoes, creating difficulties for would-be customers that effectively have slashed trade with Iran.

No one is willing to insure any Iran-related oil cargo,' a Gulf-based trader said. 'Plus the trade has to be in any other currency than the dollar.'

The United States has blacklisted some companies due to their business links with Iran, including United Arab Emirates-based Fal Oil and Singapore's Kuo-Oil, once lifters of Iranian fuel oil." (Reuters, "Iran fuel oil exports plummet in June-industry data," 7/12/12)

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"The US state department announced late on Thursday that penalties would be imposed on China’s Zhuhai Zhenrong, the Singapore-based oil trader Kuo Oil, and the United Arab Emirates-based independent oil trader FAL." (Financial Times, "US sanctions Chinese oil trader," 1/13/2012)

"Iran has said it had received more than $4bn from Emirates National Oil Company (ENOC), as part of the UAE retailer's settlement of its debts owed to Iran for pre-sanction oil and gas purchases, reported Iranian news website Al Alam." (May 29, 2017)

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"Meanwhile, close U.S. ally Dubai, long a major user of Iranian light oil known as condensate, continues to process tens of thousands of barrels a day at an Emirates National Oil Company (ENOC) refinery, according to oil industry sources and shipping data. ENOC then pumps the resulting fuel to Dubai airport, the world's second busiest. ENOC's chief executive declined to comment this week on how much Iranian oil the company was still importing and ENOC media relations did not respond to repeated requests for comment... ENOC says it is the largest provider of jet fuel at Dubai International Airport (DXB) and that its portfolio boasts a growing number of military customers... 'DLA Energy does contract with ENOC International Sales, LLC to supply jet fuel to Al Minhad Air Base,' a spokesman for the U.S. Department of Defense said. 'The contract was let in August 2011. This contract expires in August 2013.' It is not clear whether or not some of the fuel ENOC supplies under contract to the DLA come from ENOC's Jebel Ali refinery near Dubai. A western government source said ENOC also buys some fuel produced in refineries in Bahrain and Kuwait. ENOC did not comment on whether some or all the fuel it supplies to the DLA is produced at Jebel Ali. But ENOC's website says most of the jet fuel it supplies to the airport is pumped through a 60,000 barrel per day (bpd) pipeline from the refinery, and demand at the world's fastest growing airport is rising so much that it is laying a second pipeline... ENOC was the biggest buyer of Iranian condensate in 2012, when its imports rose to an average of 127,000 bpd, according to analysts' estimates... ENOC announced in February it had secured about 20,000 bpd of condensate from Qatar to feed its 120,000 bpd refinery and said it was working to find more alternatives... With shrinking export options, traders say Iran is likely to be selling its condensate fairly cheaply, helping ENOC offset multi-million dollar loses it has to take because it is obliged under UAE law to sell gasoline at a subsidised rate... Unless ENOC can find another 100,000 barrels per day of alternative supplies at competitive prices, the opening of a second pipeline due later this year could take more fuel made from Iranian oil into the tanks of international airlines... ENOC is not the only jet fuel supplier, because its refinery and existing pipeline are not big enough to meet demand at DXB, where an average of around 470 flights a day took off in 2012... Some U.S. and European airlines said they do not use ENOC when they call at Dubai, with some having global purchase deals with other suppliers. But for many of the 130 airlines flying into Dubai, the fuel derived from Iranian oil that ENOC offers is indispensable." (Reuters, "Dubai flights rely on fuel refined from Iranian oil," 4/23/2013)

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"Iran is 'still the major supplier,' Saeed Khoory, chief executive officer of Emirates National Oil Co., said today in an interview in Dubai. 'We are trying to find other sources.' ENOC, as the refiner is known, wants new suppliers of condensate because U.S. sanctions threaten financial penalties for companies that trade with Iran. ENOC said in February it had signed a contract with the Gulf sheikhdom of Qatar for a year’s supply of condensate. ENOC operates a 120,000 barrel-a-day condensate refinery that splits the light crude into oil products such as naphtha, reformate, jet fuel and diesel...  The term contract with Qatar will allow ENOC to buy more fuel than it can secure under spot purchases and guarantee more reliable supply, Khoory said. ENOC agreed to buy 20,000 barrels a day of Qatari condensate annually. That would mean ENOC is still buying as much as 100,000 barrels a day from Iran. When asked about that figure, Khoory said: “It depends.” The company can buy less of the fuel from Iran once it lines up other suppliers, he said, without specifying whether ENOC was trying to cut purchases of Iranian condensate to zero. 'We are trying to reduce our supply from Iran,' Khoory said when asked whether ENOC would eliminate Iranian condensate imports. 'You always have to diversify.' ENOC said in February it had bought 20 percent less condensate from Iran in the second half of 2012 than in the first six months of that year." (Bloomberg, "Dubai to Curb Reliance on Iranian Condensate, ENOC’s CEO Says," 4/15/2013)

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"Dubai's national oil company may have to stop importing condensate from Iran unless Washington grants it an exemption or temporary exception from this week's tightening of U.S. sanctions, diplomatic and industry sources said.

U.S. State Department officials said that financial transactions that facilitate the import of Iranian condensate are liable to a new round of measures effective June 28 that aim to cut Iran's oil revenues and force Tehran to drop its disputed nuclear program.

The fresh sanctions target condensate, produced in association with gas, which is Tehran's second-biggest source of export revenue after crude and refined products, which were targeted in earlier sanctions.

Officials at Dubai-government-owned Emirates National Oil Company (ENOC) declined to comment.

But two Gulf-based sources close to the company said ENOC had already applied for an exception. The U.S. State Department declined to confirm or deny this…Dubai uses Iranian condensate at ENOC's 120,000 barrels per day (bpd) Jebel Ali refinery that services its domestic fuel market…Dubai accounts for at least half of Iran's condensate exports, which averaged 220,000 barrels per day in the first four months of the year, shipping data shows." (Reuters, "U.S. sanctions may stop UAE from importing Iranian condensates," 6/29/2012)

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"Open sources reported that Emirates National Oil Company sold gasoline to Iran in 2010." (U.S. Government Accountability Office, Report: "Firms Reported in Open Sources to Have Sold Iran Refined Petroleum Products between January 1, 2009 and June," September 3, 2010)

"A few days ago, Emirates NBD, one of the largest banking groups in the Middle East in terms of assets, sent a letter to its Iranian customers to notify them that their accounts do not match the bank’s portfolio criteria and gave them a 30-days deadline to organize their affairs and close their accounts." (November 14, 2017)  

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Emirates NBD Bank l is one of the companies listed as a speaker at the HR Trends Summit taking place from October 18-19, 2016 in Tehran, Iran. (Speakers).
 

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Noted for conducting business with Iranian and U.S. banks. (Avi Jorisch, "Iran's dirty banking," 2010)