U.S. Treasury takes action against oil tanker with Iranian ties

US National Security Adviser Bolton: “Sanctions are serious.”

AUGUST 31, 2019 17:49

A U.S. Marine observes an Iranian fast attack craft from USS John P. Murtha during a Strait of Hormuz transit, Arabian Sea off Oman, in this picture released by U.S. Navy on July 18, 2019 (photo credit: REUTERS) — A U.S. Marine observes an Iranian fast attack craft from USS John P. Murtha during a Strait of Hormuz transit, Arabian Sea off Oman, in this picture released by U.S. Navy on July 18, 2019

(photo credit: REUTERS)

The US Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) took action on Friday against the oil tanker Adrian Darya 1, its captain Akhilesh Kumar and anyone aiding it.

US National Security Adviser John Bolton said on social media Friday night that “sanctions are serious” and “let this be a lesson to anyone” who may wish to support Iranian oil sales.

Sanctions are serious, and so is captaining a vessel engaged in illicit activity. Let this be a lesson to anyone tempted to support moving Iranian oil destined for Assad’s murderous regime. #NotWorthIt https://t.co/fRzKlAge3b
— John Bolton (@AmbJohnBolton) August 30, 2019

The tanker is believed by the US to help Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Quds Force to ship and transfer oil, according to a press release by the Treasury's Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, Sigal Mandelker.

“Anyone providing support to the Adrian Darya 1 risks being sanctioned,” she said.