The United States has taken a strong step to punish those helping Houthis. On April 29, 2025, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced new sanctions. These sanctions target three shipping companies and their vessels, saying they supported the Houthis by delivering oil and gas to ports under Houthi control in Yemen.
The Houthis, also known as Ansarallah, are part of a network supported by Iran. They have been attacking ships in the Red Sea, threatening trade and putting lives at risk. According to Deputy Secretary of the Treasury Michael Faulkender, the new action shows how serious the U.S. is about stopping the Houthis from getting money to fund their violence.
The Role of the Ships and Companies in Houthi Support
Three shipping companies are now under U.S. sanctions.
Zaas Shipping & Trading, based in the Marshall Islands, used a ship called Tulip BZ to deliver liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) to Ras Isa, a port controlled by the Houthis. The Tulip BZ also previously transported oil products for Iran. In fact, under its old name, Gas Line, it carried petrochemical goods for the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), a group that supports terrorism. The IRGC’s special unit, called the Qods Force (IRGC-QF), is especially known for supporting groups like the Houthis.
Bagsak Shipping Inc, registered in Mauritius, used Maisan to deliver gas oil to Ras Isa. Maisan has also been involved in moving Russian oil since 2023, helping Russia sell its products even while facing international sanctions.
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Great Success Shipping Co, another company based in the Marshall Islands, sent gas oil to Ras Isa using the ship White Whale. The White Whale unloaded its cargo thirteen days after the U.S. special permission for fuel deliveries to Yemen had expired.
These deliveries happened after the end of a temporary license called General License 25A, which allowed limited fuel imports into Yemen. That license expired on April 4, 2025. By delivering goods after that date, the companies broke U.S. sanctions and helped the Houthis continue profiting from port operations.
Why These Sanctions Matter
The Houthis control the Red Sea ports of Hudaydah, Ras Isa, and Al-Salif. They make millions of dollars by charging taxes on goods arriving at these ports. They also sell the imported fuel at very high prices on Yemen’s black market. The money they make is used to buy weapons and fund their attacks.
Unfortunately, the people of Yemen suffer the most. The shortage of affordable fuel and basic goods makes life extremely hard for families already facing war and poverty.
By delivering oil and gas to Houthi ports after the legal deadline, the ships Tulip BZ, Maisan, and White Whale gave the Houthis more money to continue fighting. The U.S. government says it must stop the Houthis from getting richer through these illegal trades.
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Officials also warned that providing material support to the Houthis is extremely dangerous. It not only risks punishment through U.S. sanctions but also puts ships and crews at risk of being attacked by Houthis themselves.
Blocked Ships and the Road Ahead for Their Owners
Because of the sanctions, all property and interests in property of Zaas Shipping, Bagsak Shipping, Great Success Shipping, and their vessels inside the United States are now blocked. U.S. people and companies are banned from doing any business with them.
The ships Tulip BZ, Maisan, and White Whale are now officially listed as blocked property. This means they face big difficulties in traveling, refueling, or trading internationally.
Other ships that have previously helped the Houthis are still active. The Clipper, once called Queen Luca, and the Akoya Gas, once called Gas Allure, were already blacklisted for moving oil connected to Iran and the Houthis. Despite being sanctioned, they continue their operations.
The U.S. says any financial institutions or businesses working with the blocked companies could face secondary sanctions. That could include serious penalties or being banned from doing business in the U.S.
Michael Faulkender said the U.S. Treasury will continue using every tool available to disrupt the Houthis’ funding and to protect innocent people suffering because of the violence.
