The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced Friday that it is taking its single largest action to date against Iran-backed the Houthi rebels targeting four individuals, 12 entities, and two vessels that have imported oil and other illicit goods in support of the terrorist group.
A press release issued by the OFAC explained that this action includes Houthi front companies, their owners, and other key Houthi operatives that generate significant revenue for the group through the sale of oil and other commodities on Yemen’s black market and by engaging in smuggling operations through Houthi-controlled ports.
As part of this action, Treasury is also targeting two vessels, as well as their owners and operators, which violated U.S. sanctions by discharging oil derivatives to the Houthis.
Deputy Secretary of the Treasury Michael Faulkender said “The Houthis rely on a series of front companies and trusted facilitators to clandestinely generate revenue, procure weapons components, and advance their reign of terror in partnership with the Iranian regime,”.
Those individuals, 12 entities, and two vessels, according to the press release are: Black Diamond Petroleum Derivatives (Black Diamond) a Sana’a-based company, tied to key Houthi leaders and businessmen, including the U.S.-designated Houthi,spokesperson Mohammed Abdulsalam.
Star Plus Yemen (Star Plus) is a Hudaydah-based company that operates under the direction of Abdulsalam and other prominent Houthi operatives.
Tamco Establishment for Oil Derivatives (Tamco), headquartered in Sana’a, is a key front company in the Houthis’ oil smuggling network, enabling Houthi operatives to conceal the true beneficiaries and end-users of imported oil and other commodities.
Royal Plus Shipping Services and Commercial Agencies (Royal Plus), a Sanaa based, is a front company that has enabled Houthi oil smuggling and sales.
Yahya Al-Usaili Company for Import Limited (Al-Usaili Co) is a Houthi front company that coordinates with Houthi operatives in Sana’a to import oil in exchange for foreign currency.
Gasoline Aman Company for Oil Derivatives Imports (Gasoline Aman), headquartered in Sana’a, is a Houthi front company that facilitates Houthi oil smuggling operations.
Azzahra Establishment for Commerce and Agencies (Azzahra) is a Houthi front company that plays a key role in transferring funds from oil sales to Houthi operatives and Houthi-affiliated organizations.
Yemen Elaph Petroleum Derivatives Import (Yemen Elaph) is a Sana’a-based oil import company owned by Houthi operative Abdullah Ahsan Abdullah Dabbash (Dabbash).
Abbot Trading Co., Ltd. (Abbot) is a Sana’a-based shipping and logistics company that has generated revenue by facilitating oil and oil derivatives sales in Houthi-controlled areas.
Ali Ahmed Daghsan Talea (Talea) operates Abbot in coordination with his brother, Houthi smuggling operative Daghsan Ahmed Daghsan (Daghsan).
Abdullah Ahsan Abdullah Dabbash is being designated pursuant to E.O. 13224, as amended, for owning or controlling, directly or indirectly, Yemen Elaph Petroleum Derivatives Import.
Zaid Al-Washli (Al-Washli) is the head of the Houthi-aligned port management company, which controls operations at key Houthi-controlled ports, including Hudaydah and Al-Salif.
Best Way Tanker Corp. (Best Way) and Ocean Voyage LLC (Ocean Voyage) facilitated the delivery of gasoline to the Houthi-controlled port of Ras Isa via the vessel Valente after the expiration of OFAC’s GL 25A.
Atlantis MZ. Shipping Co facilitated the delivery of refined petroleum products into Ras Isa via the Atlantis MZ after the expiration of GL 25A.
The Sarah in June 2025 was again at berth in Ras Isa to discharge LPG.
The SDN List entry for Tulip BZ is being updated to reflect the vessel’s current name, Sarah.
The statement concluded that Violations of U.S. sanctions may result in the imposition of civil or criminal penalties on U.S. and foreign persons adding that any entities that are owned, directly or indirectly, individually or in the aggregate, 50 percent or more by one or more blocked persons are also blocked.
Unless authorized by a general or specific license issued by OFAC, or exempt, OFAC’s regulations generally prohibit all transactions by U.S. persons or within (or transiting) the United States that involve any property or interests in property of blocked persons.