The US Department of State imposed sanctions on six Indian companies for their involvement in the trade of Iranian petroleum and petrochemical products. The announcement was made on July 31, 2025, as a part of an international enforcement action against 20 entities globally with deals worth around $220 million. The sanctions against the identified Indian companies are the first holistic action taken against India firms since the 2025 sanctions related to four small shipping and brokerage firms for their involvement in the sponsoring of Iranian oil shipments. The identified Indian firms are accused of having imported, marketed or tonnage shipped Iranian-origin goods-such as petrochemicals, after appropriate onward distribution, frequently routing to buyers in Asia. The US Treasury’s campaign, entered under the “maximum pressure” policy of the Trump administration, continues to target the hidden networks of Iranian oil exports, including its alleged “ghost fleet” and “shell” intermediaries. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent cautioned that companies involved in Iran’s energy supply chain would be exposed to significant risks, including asset freezing and exclusion from the US market. He emphasized that these revenues fund Iran’s nuclear, missile and regional proxy agenda.
