The US has targeted two India-based individuals Suniel Kumar Sharma and spouse, Jaspreet Preeti Shahid for supporting Iran’s shadow fleet through a network providing false-flags and certification.     The criminal network of the two individuals was zeroed in on by the latest round of sanctions under the US’ Operation Economic Outcast against the maritime network that helps support the Iranian government.      “As we have said many times, under Operation Economic Outcast, you are either with us or against us,” said Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent. “We know where you are, and we will sanction those who continue supporting the Iranian regime, whether by land, sea, or air.”     The US Treasury said Sharma and Shahid had established false flags and classification societies in multiple jurisdictions claiming to represent nations from nearly every continent, from Guyana to Eswatini and Laos, allowing the Iranian shadow fleet, including those operating on behalf of the Iranian military and its proxies, to evade international restrictions on their operation.     It said their operations began in 2014 impersonate the flagging authority of the Caribbean nation of Dominica. Many of the false-flag operations were not tied to registered companies but rather the couple ran websites claiming to offer flagging services for various states including Aruba, Guyana, Mali, Mozambique, Malawi, Sint Maarten, and Timor-Leste, which provided fraudulent registration for dark fleet vessels.     The Treasury Department cited the example of the tanker Majestic X which was flying a Guyana false flag and carrying Iranian oil when it as seized by the US on 22 April.     The US has sanctioned a number of companies in Singapore and India related to the network. These include Eswatini Maritime Affairs and International Ship Registry Pte. Ltd. in Singapore which continues to provide flagging services despite being disavowed by the Eswatini authorities.    

India-based Oceaniek Technologies India, which was said be used to establish duplicitous flag registries, including those purporting to belong to Aruba, Nicaragua, and Sint Maarten. The US Treasury also designated India-based Aryavart Ship Management Private Limited.