first series of sanctions against IRISL in September 2008. Stuart Levey, the Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, explained, "Not only does IRISL facilitate the transport of cargo for U.N. designated proliferators, it also falsifies documents and uses deceptive schemes to shroud its involvement in illicit commerce IRISL's actions are part of a broader pattern of deception and fabrication that Iran uses to advance its nuclear and missile programs. That conduct should give pause to any financial institution or business still choosing to deal with Iran." The UN followed with sanctions against IRISL in June 2010 as part of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1929. The European Union implemented its own sanctions against IRISL a month later in July 2010. In 2012, the United States moved to clamp down on IRISL's use of deceptive front companies to shield its activities. In October 2020, the US imposed sanctions on Chinese companies for doing business with IRISL, and in January 2021, the US sanctioned companies in Iran, China and the United Arab Emirates for doing business with IRISL. See also Current Iranian Navy vessels International rankings of Iran Iran Shipbuilding & Offshore Industries Complex Co National Iranian Tanker Company SADRA Transportation in Iran References External links Iran Ports and Shipping Organization Iran Ports invest Maroos Shipping Company Iran Shipper Evades U.S. Blacklist - WSJ article about IRSL and sanctions against Iran Specialized reports BMI - Iran Shipping Report - 2010 (86-page report on Iran Shipping industry) Shipping companies of Iran Transport companies established in 1979 Container shipping companies 1979 establishments in Iran Iranian entities subject to the U.S. Department of the Treasury sanctions