US sanctions Danish businessman for Iran ties

Danish businessman Martin Kaalund, based in Dubai and active in the Middle East shipping industry, has been sanctioned by U.S. authorities. Investigative media outlet Danwatch reported that Kaalund is linked to several companies allegedly working closely with sanctioned Iranian businessman Hussein Shamkhani.

According to Danwatch, the U.S. Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) imposed the sanctions on July 14th. OFAC administers and enforces economic and trade sanctions based on U.S. foreign policy and national security objectives, targeting individuals and entities involved in activities that threaten U.S. interests.

Kaalund is connected to the Dubai-based company House of Shipping Investment FZCO, which is said to function as a shipping provider for Shamkhani. The sanctions were reportedly imposed due to this connection. Kaalund has strongly denied all allegations, stating to Danwatch, "I deny any claim that I have supported the IRGC (Iran's Revolutionary Guard, ed.) or assisted in circumventing U.S. sanctions." He added that he has sought legal counsel to contest the designation through administrative procedures.

OFAC's sanctions list aims to target countries, regimes, terrorists, international drug traffickers, and those involved in the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, among other threats to U.S. national security, foreign policy, or economy.

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søgt juridisk rådgivning for at anfægte designeringen (sanktionerne, red.) gennem de relevante administrative procedurer