Shipowner jailed in the US over Iranian ties

Shipowner jailed in the US over Iranian ties
Sam Chambers July 28, 2023 https://splash247.com/shipowner-jailed-in-the-us-over-iranian-ties/

Behrouz Mokhtari, 72, of McLean, Virginia, and Tehran, Iran, a naturalised US citizen, was sentenced this week to 41 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release as well as a fine of more than $2m.

He had earlier pleaded guilty to two separate conspiracies to violate sanctions imposed by the United States on Iran.

Mokhtari created a Panama-based front company, East & West Shipping, to purchase two liquid petroleum gas (LPG) tanker vessels to transport Iranian petrochemical products.

After using East & West to purchase the two vessels, Mokhtari transferred ownership of the vessels to other entities. Another entity, Greenline Shipholding, was used to control the operations of the LPG vessels.