The United States imposes new sanctions on a Houthi network that purchases weapons and goods from Russia.

The US Treasury Department announced on Wednesday new sanctions targeting a Russia-based network linked to arms procurement for the Houthis in Yemen.

The US Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control said it will impose sanctions on several individuals and entities based in Russia who have helped procure weapons and other resources for the Iran-backed Houthi militants.

The sanctions come amid escalating tit-for-tat attacks between the United States and the Houthis. The Houthis claimed to have targeted the US aircraft carrier Harry S. Truman, stationed in the region, on Tuesday.

Houthi spokesman Yahya Saree also claimed that his group shot down a US MQ-9 drone. The US military reportedly told the Associated Press it was aware of the claims but declined further comment.

Among the individuals sanctioned on Tuesday are two Afghan businessmen and brothers based in Russia, Hoshang Gherat and Sohrab Gherat.

According to the US Treasury Department, the two individuals assisted Saeed al-Jamal, a senior Houthi financial official sanctioned in 2021 and allegedly backed by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps, in "Houthi business initiatives in Russia, including arms procurement."

According to the ministry, Sohrab heads three limited liability companies in Russia—Sky Frame, Edison, and Colibri Group—which have also been sanctioned by the United States.

The US Treasury Department alleges that the brothers, under the direction of Saeed al-Jamal, facilitated the transport of at least two shipments of stolen Ukrainian grain from Crimea to Yemen in 2024. The United States also imposed sanctions on Russian nationals Vyacheslav Vladimirovich Vidanov and Yuri Vladimirovich Belyakov, both of whom were captains of the vessel transporting the stolen Ukrainian grain.

In addition to the sanctions targeting individuals based in Russia, the Treasury Department will also impose sanctions on Hassan Jafari, an Iranian national based in Turkey, who worked with the brothers and Saeed al-Jamal to "launder dollars on behalf of the Saeed al-Jamal network" and "arranged millions of dollars in payments to support shipments benefiting the Houthis," according to a Treasury statement.

According to the US Monitor, this announcement is the latest in a series of sanctions against the Houthis and their associated networks. The sanctions have escalated in conjunction with US military action against the group.

Statement text:

Today, the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control ( OFAC ) took action against a network of Houthi financial facilitators and procurement officials working in coordination with Saeed al-Jamal, a senior Houthi financial official supported by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Qods Force.

This network purchased tens of millions of dollars worth of goods from Russia, including weapons and sensitive goods, as well as stolen Ukrainian grain, for shipment to Houthi-controlled Yemen.

Additionally, OFAC identified eight digital asset wallets used by the Houthis to transfer funds related to their activities.

"The Houthis continue to rely on Saeed al-Jamal and his network to provide essential goods for their terrorist war machine," said Treasury Secretary Scott Besant. "Today's action underscores our commitment to undermining the Houthis' ability to threaten the region through their destabilizing activities."

The Houthis have deployed missiles, drones, and sea mines to attack commercial shipping interests in the Red Sea, threatening global freedom of navigation and the safety of international trade.

These indiscriminate attacks on civilian economic infrastructure, supported and encouraged by the Iranian regime, have resulted in the deaths of innocent civilians and millions of dollars in damage to commercial shipping.

Today's action is being taken under the counterterrorism authority, Executive Order 13224, as amended. The U.S. Department of State's designation of Ansar Allah (also known as the Houthis) as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist ( SDGT ) under Executive Order 13224, as amended, took effect on February 16, 2024.

OFAC designated Saeed al-Jamal pursuant to Executive Order 13224, as amended, on June 10, 2021, for having materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Qods Force (IRGC-QF).

OFAC designated the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Qods Force (IRGC-QF) under Executive Order 13224 on October 25, 2007, for providing material support to multiple terrorist groups.

Houthi procurement network

Afghan businessman Hoshang Ghairat (Hoshang), based in Russia, and his brother Sohrab Ghairat (Sohrab), based in Russia, assisted Saeed al-Jamal in Houthi business initiatives in Russia, including arms purchases.

In the summer and fall of 2024, Hooshang and Sohrab, under the direction of Saeed al-Jamal, arranged at least two shipments of stolen Ukrainian grain from Crimea to Yemen on the Russian-flagged vessel AM Theseus ( IMO: 9720263 ), also known as the Dhofar.

Hong Kong-based AM Asia M6 Ltd is the registered owner, ship manager, and operator of AM THESEUS . Russian national Vyacheslav Vladimirovich Fedanov (Fedanov) was the captain of AM THESEUS during some of its voyages between Crimea and Yemen in 2024, while Russian national Yuri Vladimirovich Belyakov (Belyakov) was in command until the end of 2024.

Houshang, Sohrab, AM Asia M6 Limited, Vidanov, and Belyakov are being designated pursuant to E.O. 13224, as amended, for having materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services to, Saeed Al-Jamal. AM Theseus is designated as blocked property in which AM Asia M6 Limited has an interest.

Sohrab is the CEO of three Russia-based companies: Sky Frame Ltd, Edison Ltd, and Colibri Group Ltd.

Skyframe Limited, Edison Limited, and Colibri Group Limited are being designated pursuant to E.O. 13224, as amended, for being owned, controlled, or directed by, directly or indirectly, Sohrab.

Houthi money laundering and shipping activities

Hoshang, Sohrab, and Saeed al-Jamal use financial intermediaries to conduct financial transactions to support Houthi commercial projects involving Russia, including the aforementioned grain shipments.

Iranian money launderer Hassan Jafari (Jafari), based in Turkey, worked with Hooshang and Saeed Al-Jamal to launder money on behalf of Saeed Al-Jamal's network, enabling the network to carry out its sanctions evasion schemes. Jafari also arranged millions of dollars in payments to support shipments for the Houthis.

Jafari was designated pursuant to Executive Order 13224, as amended, for having materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of, Hoshang.