Saudi Arabia is forming a coalition to protect international shipping and energy transport routes in the Red Sea. The move comes after the pro-Iranian armed group Houthi rebels recently declared a blockade of Saudi Arabia and attacked oil tankers and other vessels passing through the Red Sea.
The Saudi Arabian Ministry of Defense said on the 30th that it held an international conference to discuss the creation of a multinational naval defense alliance. Chiefs of staff and representatives from 43 countries attended the meeting, along with a European Union (EU) delegation stationed in Saudi Arabia. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that 51 countries and organizations had been invited.
Saudi Arabia unveiled a plan to create a "multinational maritime defense coalition" involving 14 countries to protect international shipping and energy transport routes in the Red Sea. According to Reuters and DPA, the coalition includes Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries such as Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar and Bahrain, as well as Pakistan, Turkey, Egypt and Jordan. Among GCC member states, Oman and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) decided to opt out.
Saudi Arabia plans to play a leading role in creating the coalition and will host its headquarters in Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia explained that the coalition aims to strengthen maritime security, guarantee freedom of navigation, protect international trade routes and energy supply chains, and safeguard common maritime interests in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and the Gulf of Aden.
The Saudi Ministry of Defense said, "Maritime security is a shared responsibility that can be ensured through joint military operations, planning, training and intelligence exchange." It added, "The coalition is purely defensive and is not intended to attack any other country or alliance."
Iran's Arms-Carrying 'Shell Companies'... China, India and Russia Caught in US Sanctions Net
On the same day, the United States designated Iranian airline Mahan Air, along with four companies based in Iran, China, India and Russia and two individuals that had supported the activities of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), as sanctions targets. Amid escalating military conflict with Iran, the US continued its sanctions against Iran and further raised the level of pressure.
The US Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced the new sanctions targets. The targets include "Shanghai Wings," a China-based company that has arranged the shipment of electronic products from China to Iran as a sales agent for Mahan Air, and the company's executive Tang Xin. "Shanghai Elite," in which Tang Xin holds a 50% stake, is also a sanctions target.
Also designated as sanctions targets were "Skiz Travels," an India-based company that has served as a sales agent for Mahan Air, "Aircargo Pro," a Russia-based company, and "Dadenegar," a front company linked to the IRGC. According to the Treasury, this company collected location information of US and Israeli equipment online to support Iran's military targeting.
Under this measure, all US assets of the individuals and companies subject to sanctions will be frozen, and companies in which they own 50% or more of the shares will also automatically become sanctions targets.
The Treasury said that although Mahan Air presents itself as a civilian airline, it has long served as a key conduit for transporting weapons, troops and military equipment around the world for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said, "Those who provide financial services, logistics, or commercial support to the Revolutionary Guard or Mahan Air are helping sustain a terrorist organization." He added, "We will continue to find such individuals and cut them off from the US financial system."
Meanwhile, the US State Department decided to offer a reward of up to $15 million to informants providing information on financial networks related to Kimia Part Sivan Company (KIPAS), known as the drone production division of the IRGC's Quds Force. The program requests information on seven presumed senior KIPAS employees, their accomplices and financial networks, and will provide rewards and relocation assistance to eligible informants.
