The US Department of the Treasury has announced its most extensive sanctions to date against Houthi maritime operations backed by Iran. The new sanctions list includes 32 individuals and entities, along with four vessels identified as part of the group’s global logistics network.
According to OFAC, the measures target the full spectrum of Houthi maritime activity: from fundraising and smuggling to weapons procurement and attacks on international shipping in the Red Sea.
US Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence John K. Hurley emphasized that the sanctions primarily focus on intermediaries enabling the Houthis to acquire advanced military equipment, including components for ballistic and cruise missiles and drones used in attacks on US forces, allies, and commercial vessels.
Entities and companies targeted:
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Tyba Ship Management DMCC (UAE) — operator of the tankers STAR MM, NOBEL M, BLACK ROCK, and SHRIA, which were used to offload oil at Houthi-controlled ports.
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Chinese logistics firms Guangzhou Yakai International Freight Forwarding Co., Ltd. and Guangzhou Nahari Trading Co., Ltd., which arranged shipments of dual-use goods and military materials to Yemen.
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Hubei Chica Industrial Co., Ltd., which coordinated the supply of chemical precursors for ballistic missile production and helped the Houthis falsify shipping documents to evade Chinese export controls.
These measures build on earlier US sanctions introduced in June 2024 against Houthi leaders, smugglers, financiers, and suppliers. They align with NSPM-2, the Presidential directive mandating maximum economic pressure on Iran and its terrorist proxies.
Previously, in February 2024, the US State Department designated the Houthi movement “Ansarallah” as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist organization under Executive Order 13224, and in March 2025, it was added to the list of Foreign Terrorist Organizations.
The sanctions come amid continued Houthi attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea, which have caused civilian casualties and disrupted freedom of navigation in one of the world’s most vital maritime corridors. Illicit oil trade and smuggling remain a key source of revenue for the Houthis, funding their global weapons supply chain through front companies, intermediaries, and international partners now under US sanctions.
