December 2 - The US Treasury Department has announced sanctions against eight more Iranian shipping companies and four executives.

Ashtead ShippingByfleet ShippingCobham ShippingDorking ShippingEffingham ShippingFarnham ShippingGomshall Shipping and Horsham Shipping are among the additional companies being targeted by the Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control. All are alleged by OFAC to be 'front companies' for Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines and all eight have the the same address in the Isle of Man.

In a statement, US undersecretary for terrorism and financial intelligence, Stuart Levey said: "As long as Iran uses front companies, cut-outs and other forms of deception to hide its illicit activities, we intend to expose this conduct and thereby counteract Iran's attempts to evade U.S. and international sanctions.

"Today's actions will help governments, banks and other private companies around the world ensure that they do not inadvertently facilitate Iran's proliferation and support for terrorism."

OFAC also announced sanctions against IRISL's Dajmar and three other executives: Gholam Hossein Golparvar(managing director of Safiran Payam Darya Shipping), Hassan Jalil Zadeh (managing director of Hafiz Darya Shipping) and Mohammad Hadi Pajand (secretary of Irinvestship and director of Lancelin Shipping).