Those sanctioned have their property and interests in the United States blocked.
WASHINGTON—The Treasury Department announced on Jan. 16 that it has sanctioned more than 20 individuals and entities for allegedly helping transfer oil, get arms, and provide financial backing for the Iran-backed Houthis.
The department targeted 21 individuals and entities for allegedly supporting the Houthis, who have been designated as terrorists by the United States.
“The Houthis threaten the United States by committing acts of terror and attacking commercial vessels transiting the Red Sea,” Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in a press release.
“Treasury is taking action to cut off nearly two dozen individuals and entities involved in transferring oil, procuring weapons, and providing financial services for this Iran-backed terrorist organization.
“Treasury will use all tools at its disposal to expose the networks and individuals enabling Houthi terrorism.”
They consist of front companies, facilitators, and operatives based in Yemen, Oman, and the United Arab Emirates, “that are part of the Houthis’ vast revenue generation and smuggling networks, which enable the group to sustain its capability to conduct destabilizing regional activities and unprovoked attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea,” the department said.
Entities sanctioned include UAE-based Al Sharafi Oil Companies Services, Adeema Oil FZC, and Alsaa Petroleum and Shipping FZC.
Al Sharafi Oil Companies Services and Adeema Oil FZC are significant Houthi oil and gas facilitators, according to the Treasury Department.
Alsaa Petroleum and Shipping FZC allegedly assists financial transactions between the Iranian government and Houthi-affiliated oil entities.
Individuals punished include Waleed Fathi Salam Baidhani, the owner of Al Sharafi Oil Companies Services and Adeema Oil FZC; Imran Asghar, the owner of Alsaa Petroleum and Shipping FZC; and Zayd Ali Ahmed Al-Sharafi, who allegedly imports and exports oil for the Houthis.
The sanctions also targeted alleged weapons smuggling operations on behalf of the Houthis.
One entity, Yemen-based Wadi Kabir Co. for Logistics Services, has allegedly smuggled arms and “owns a network of warehouses and trucks in Yemen that it uses to coordinate weapons and other illicit shipments in support of Houthi procurement efforts,” the Treasury Department said.
Additionally, the department sanctioned two companies and one individual for allegedly purchasing smuggling aircraft on behalf of the Houthis.
Air cargo transportation company Barash Aviation and Sama Airlines, both based in Yemen, were punished.
Barash Aviation has allegedly helped the Houthis purchase aircraft to transfer illicit cargo, while Sama Airlines was founded by the Houthis to generate revenue by providing commercial service from Sana’a International Airport.
In 2025, Barash Aviation and Sama Airlines sought to work with convicted arms dealer Viktor Bout to purchase commercial aircraft for both entities.
Bout was released by the United States in 2022 in a prisoner exchange in which Russia freed WNBA basketball player Brittney Griner.
The individual sanctioned was Adil Mutahhar Abdallah Al Muayyad, who was allegedly crucial in Barash Aviation’s and Sama Airlines’ business operations and aircraft acquisition initiatives.
Those sanctioned have their U.S. property and interests blocked. People in the United States are prohibited from doing business with them.
The sanctions come amid intense protests in Iran against the regime over economic turmoil.
The Treasury Department announced on Jan. 15 that it sanctioned five Iranian officials allegedly responsible for violently suppressing the protests.
