VANIYA SHIP MANAGEMENT PRIVATE LIMITED

"A third Mehdi Group subsidiary, Vaniya Ship Management Private Limited, helped Mehdi Group set up three shell companies in the Marshall Islands.  Under Ali Ghadeer Mehdi’s management, the shell companies purchased three crude oil tankers:  the SARAK, the SOBAR, and the SOLAN.  The SOBAR and the SOLAN previously appeared in an OFAC advisory to the maritime petroleum shipping community, which warned of the sanctions risks associated with shipments of petroleum to the Government of Syria.  Both vessels, as well as the SARAK, are identified today as blocked property in which Mehdi Group has an interest.  Notably, the SARAK falsified the Iranian origin of its cargo to port authorities." (U.S. Department of the Treasury, "Treasury Designates Vast Iranian Petroleum Shipping Network That Supports IRGC-QF and Terror Proxies," 9/4/2019). (https://www.treasury.gov/resource-center/sanctions/Programs/Documents/iran_advisory_09032019.pdf) (https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/sm767)