Alleged links to Houthi rebels: US sanctions a shipping company

The United States has imposed sanctions on a shipping company for alleged ties to Iran and Yemen's Houthi rebels. The US Treasury announced the ban on Wednesday. The name of the banned company is Vishnu Corporation. The company is registered in the Marshall Islands.

The US sanctions announcement said one of the company's ships was involved in illegal shipments.

According to the United States, the cargo ship is associated with Saeed al-Jamal, a financier of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' Quds Force (IRGC-QF) and Yemen's Houthi rebels. The US has sanctions on Saeed al-Jamal.

U.S. Treasury Department official Brian Nelson said in a statement that Washington is committed to thwarting efforts by the IRGC-QF and the Houthis to finance terrorist attacks, including evading U.S. sanctions.

Brian Nelson also said the United States will continue to target critical financing sources that pose a threat to civil and peaceful international commerce.

The Houthis are targeting ships in the Red Sea. The United States is taking various steps to prevent this attack. Yemen's Houthis say they are targeting Israeli-affiliated ships to end the war in the Palestinian Gaza Strip.