The U.S. Treasury Department on Friday blacklisted nine ships and their owners in response to Iran’s ongoing crackdown on protestors, including Tehran’s decision to shut down internet access within the country. 

The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) said the vessels and their owners “collectively transported hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of Iranian oil and petroleum products” to overseas markets. The proceeds of the sales were diverted to fund Iran’s regional “terrorist proxies,” weapons programs, and security services, rather than domestic economic needs, the agency said. 

Among the “shadow fleet” vessels cited were the Palau-flagged SEA BIRD, the Comoros-flagged AVON, the Palau-flagged AL DIAB II, the Palau-flagged CESARIA, the unknown-flagged LONGEVITY 7, the Palau-flagged EASTERN HERO, the Panama-flagged AQUA SPIRIT, and the Comoros-flagged CHIRON 5 and KEEL. 

Treasury also listed the companies designated in connection with those vessels, including Horizon Harvest Shipping LLC, Aayat Ship Management Private Limited, Black Stone Oil and Gas, Galeran Service Corp, Longevity Shipping Limited, Odyssey Marine Inc., Benoil Shipping Inc., and Trade Bridge Global Inc.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in a statement that the action is part of President Donald Trump’s “maximum pressure” campaign and described the sanctions as aimed at a “critical component” of how Iran generates funds used to repress its population. 

“The Iranian regime is engaged in a ritual of economic self-immolation—a process that has been accelerated by President Trump’s maximum pressure campaign,” he said in the statement. “Tehran’s decision to support terrorists over its own people has caused Iran’s currency and living conditions to be in free fall.” 

The sanctions come as President Trump has ordered a U.S. aircraft carrier group to advance toward Iran “just in case” he decides to order military action, the Associated Press reported. The Iranian government is accused of killing at 5,302 protestors since the demonstrations began in late December, the news agency said. 

Earlier this month, OFAC imposed sanctions on Iranian officials accused of helping to circumvent U.S. sanctions and oppress protestors with funding derived from the country’s so-called “shadow banking” network.

Read more at the U.S. Treasury Department

Read more at the Associated Press