US sanctions companies, Malta-based individual affiliated with Iran

The Department of Treasury said that the action was taken as IRISL and its subsidiaries "have increasingly relied upon multiple front companies and agents to overcome the impact of  U.S. and international sanctions and increased scrutiny of their  behavior."

The 10 targeted companies are BIIS Maritime Limited, ISIM  Amin Limited, ISIM Atr Limited, ISIM Olive Limited, ISIM Sat Limited, ISIM Sea Chariot Limited, ISIM Sea Crescent Limited,

ISIM Sinin Limited, ISIM Taj Mahal Limited and ISIM Tour Limited.

The individual is Jamshid Khalili, chief executive and managing director of Irano Hind, who is an Iranian national. According to the US State Department, Khalili is based in Malta.

"As IRISL and its subsidiaries continue their deceptive efforts to escape the grasp of U.S. and international sanctions,  we will continue to take action -- as we are today -- to expose  the front companies, agents and managers working with IRISL and work to stop this illicit business," said Under Secretary of Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence David Cohen.

The Treasury said the entities and individual blacklisted are linked to IRISL, Irano Hind -- a joint venture between IRISL  and Shipping Corporation of India -- or ISI Maritime.

The Treasury said that IRISL has facilitated shipments of military-related cargo destined for Iran's Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics (MODAFL) and its subordinate entities, including organizations designated by the United States for sanctions.

The State Department designated MODAFL in October 2007,  while the Treasury blacklisted IRISL in September 2008.