Shipping

"Mehdi Group officials, including Ali Zaheer Mehdi, have spread responsibility for managing the vessels across at least ten subsidiaries and shell companies. India-based Mehdi Group subsidiaries Bushra Ship Management Private Limited and Khadija Ship Management Private Limited (Khadija), under director Ali Ghadeer Mehdi, handle the day-to-day operations of the network’s vessels.  These vessels include the BONITA QUEEN, the DEVREZ, and the TOUR 2, which are being identified today as blocked property in which Khadija has an interest. Other Mehdi Group officials work to ensure the vessels remain available for the network’s use.  Anuj Bhardwaj arranges vessel inspections and registrations.  Zafar Anis Ishteyaq Hussain tracks and processes millions of dollars in expenses incurred by the vessels." (U.S. Department of the Treasury, "Treasury Designates Vast Iranian Petroleum Shipping Network That Supports IRGC-QF and Terror Proxies," 9/4/2019).

"Hokoul S.A.L. Offshore (Hokoul) and Talaqi Group are front companies run by Hizballah official al-Bazzal.  Al-Bazzal has sought to continue operating his network since being designated by OFAC by purporting to transfer ownership of his companies, including Nagham al Hayat and Tawafuk.  In early 2019, al-Bazzal sought to remove his name as an owner and shareholder from all company documents, presumably in order to evade U.S. sanctions. Lebanon-based Hokoul supplies SYTROL with Iranian crude under IRGC-QF auspices.  Al-Bazzal and other Hizballah officials have control over the contractual and financial obligations of Hokoul, while Ali Qasir represents Hokoul in negotiating its supply of Iranian crude to Syria.  NITC vessels including the DELICE, the DESTINY, the HAPPINESS I, and the SINOPA transport such petroleum and petroleum products, and are identified pursuant to E.O. 13224 today as property in which Hokoul has an interest.  Ali Qasir also is the managing director of Talaqi Group, which finances oil shipments for the IRGC-QF." (U.S. Department of the Treasury, "Treasury Designates Vast Iranian Petroleum Shipping Network That Supports IRGC-QF and Terror Proxies," 9/4/2019).

"Additionally, Mehdi Group has two branch offices:  Singapore-based Mehdi Offshore and Ship Management Pte. Ltd. (Mehdi Offshore) and United Arab Emirates (UAE)-based Penta Ocean Ship Management & Operation LLC (Penta Ocean).  Mehdi Offshore ostensibly provides various support services, while Penta Ocean and UAE-based Mehdi Group subsidiary Fourteen Star Shipping Management manages billing and payments.  Mehdi Group also is able to draw on expertise in oil-related logistics, including refining and storage, through its UAE-based subsidiary Five Energy Oil Trading. Mehdi Group found a partner outside of the company to supplement its efforts to assist the IRGC-QF.  Lebanon-based Africo 1 Off-Shore SAL assists in, sponsors, or provides financial, material, or technological support for, or financial or other services to or in support of, Mehdi Group subsidiary Vaniya Ship Management by operating the tanker JASMINE for the network.  The JASMINE also is being identified today pursuant to E.O. 13224 as blocked property in which Africo 1 Off-Shore SAL has an interest." (U.S. Department of the Treasury, "Treasury Designates Vast Iranian Petroleum Shipping Network That Supports IRGC-QF and Terror Proxies," 9/4/2019).

"Al-Bazzal and his wife are co-founders of Talaqi Group.  Al-Bazzal oversaw Talaqi Group’s partnership with ALUMIX for shipments of aluminum to Iran, while his wife, as ALUMIX’s general manager, supplies Talaqi Group with payment information.  ALUMIX was known as “Dogmoch” until late 2018. Two additional companies fall under al-Bazzal’s purview.  He owns Syria-based Nagham Al Hayat and serves on its board of directors, managing the company’s assets, personnel, legal, and financial issues.  Al-Bazzal is a founder and owner of Tawafuk, where he is involved in day-to-day activities as general manager. Hokoul S.A.L. Offshore, Talaqi Group, Nagham Al Hayat, Tawafuk, and ALUMIX are being designated pursuant to E.O. 13224 today for being owned or controlled by Muhammad Qasim al-Bazzal."  (U.S. Department of the Treasury, "Treasury Designates Vast Iranian Petroleum Shipping Network That Supports IRGC-QF and Terror Proxies," 9/4/2019).

"India-based Mehdi Group and its director, Ali Zaheer Mehdi, have managed vessels and found additional ones to move Iranian oil.  Mehdi Group bears responsibility for crewing and managing at least seven of the vessels used by the network. Mehdi Group officials, including Ali Zaheer Mehdi, have spread responsibility for managing the vessels across at least ten subsidiaries and shell companies. India-based Mehdi Group subsidiaries Bushra Ship Management Private Limited and Khadija Ship Management Private Limited (Khadija), under director Ali Ghadeer Mehdi, handle the day-to-day operations of the network’s vessels.  These vessels include the BONITA QUEEN, the DEVREZ, and the TOUR 2, which are being identified today as blocked property in which Khadija has an interest." (U.S. Department of the Treasury, "Treasury Designates Vast Iranian Petroleum Shipping Network That Supports IRGC-QF and Terror Proxies," 9/4/2019).

"India’s Mehdi Group, which owns a share of the Adrian Darya, and its director, Ali Zaheer Mehdi, have crewed and managed at least seven of the 11 ships and found others to haul Iranian oil, spreading responsibility among at least 10 subsidiaries and front companies, U.S. officials said. Mehdi Group shell companies and subsidiaries were set up in the Marshall Islands, Singapore and the United Arab Emirates, they said." (Reuters, "U.S. blacklists 'oil for terror' ship network as it raises pressure on IRGC," 9/4/2019).

Synergy SAL (Offshore) has shipped tens of thousands of metric tons of Iranian oil into Syria in the past year by sea. Some of the vessels used by Synergy SAL (Offshore) to conduct these illicit shipments also appear in the OFAC Advisory to the Maritime Shipping Community

Synergy SAL (Offshore) has materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services in support of, Banias Refinery Company, and is being designated pursuant to E.O. 13582;

These land- and sea-based shipments are destined for Banias Refinery Company, which is identified as meeting the definition of Government of Syria pursuant to E.O. 13582; (OFAC, 6/11/2019)

Sandro and Jasmine tankers have been turning off their location transponders and conducting transfers of the Iranian oil to or from other vessels off the Syrian coast. Iran’s regime uses these tactics regularly to evade U.S. sanctions;

The Iranian-flagged Suezmax tanker Silvia I conducted a ship-to-ship transfer of roughly 500,000 barrels of crude oil to the Sandro tanker, just off Syria’s coast, on July 25. The Sandro turned off its transponder five days later and has not reported its position since. However, by using satellite imagery, TankerTrackers.com has tracked the vessel;

Sadro tanker is owned by Sandro by Sandro Overseas (Off Shore). Sandro Overseas owners are:
Marwan Ramadan, Bilal Atris and Khalid Deeb;

Syria Report business newsletter, believe that Syrian executive Samer Foz is highly likely to be involved with Sandro Overseas (Off Shore) after the Syrian Oil Ministry awarded the company with a contract to process oil residues from eastern Syria, which has a very controversial move. Sandro Overseas (Off Shore) will replace Lebanese company Synergy SAL Offshore, which was also involved in Iranian oil shipments and was sanctioned by the US for this in June;

Synergy SAL (Offshore) and Sandro Overseas (Off Shore), both firms share the same address in downtown Beirut’s Al-Azarieh Building office complex, according to their corporate records. The National visited the address, a company providing virtual offices and co-working spaces. Neither Synergy SAL Offshore nor Sandro Overseas (Off Shore) were present at the location. Africo 1 (Off-Shore) also uses the Al-Azarieh Building as an address and was also not present at the office complex. In another indication of Mr Foz’s involvement, when The National phoned the number listed on a Synergy SAL Offshore letterhead, the recipient denied the number was for the company. Instead, the receptionist said the number belonged to a different Beirut-based firm that corporate records lists Mr Foz as a part-owner; (Source: The National, 8/11/2019). 

"Lebanon-based Africo 1 Off-Shore SAL assists in, sponsors, or provides financial, material, or technological support for, or financial or other services to or in support of, Mehdi Group subsidiary Vaniya Ship Management by operating the tanker JASMINE for the network.  The JASMINE also is being identified today pursuant to E.O. 13224 as blocked property in which Africo 1 Off-Shore SAL has an interest." (U.S. Department of the Treasury, "Treasury Designates Vast Iranian Petroleum Shipping Network That Supports IRGC-QF and Terror Proxies," 9/4/2019).

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Africo 1 (Off-Shore) SAL became the registered owner of Jasmine tanker and ship manager of the vessel on February 26;

Sandro and Jasmine tankers have been turning off their location transponders and conducting transfers of the Iranian oil to or from other vessels off the Syrian coast. Iran’s regime uses these tactics regularly to evade U.S. sanctions;

Jasmine tanker is owned by Africo 1 (Off-Shore) SAL. Africo 1 (Off-Shore) SAL owners are:
Marwan Ramadan, Bilal Atris and Khalid Deeb;

Synergy SAL (Offshore) and Africo 1 (Off-Shore), both firms share the same address in downtown Beirut’s Al-Azarieh Building office complex, according to their corporate records. The National visited the address, a company providing virtual offices and co-working spaces. Neither Synergy SAL Offshore nor Sandro Overseas (Off Shore) were present at the location. Africo 1 (Off-Shore) also uses the Al-Azarieh Building as an address and was also not present at the office complex. In another indication of Mr Foz’s involvement, when The National phoned the number listed on a Synergy SAL Offshore letterhead, the recipient denied the number was for the company. Instead, the receptionist said the number belonged to a different Beirut-based firm that corporate records lists Mr Foz as a part-owner; (Source: The National, 8/11/2019).