Altomare S.A. rejected US accusations after the United States placed the Piraeus-based tanker manager and its VLCC Kallista on a sanctions list for allegedly transporting Iranian oil for Iran’s armed forces.
The US Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control said it was targeting “a network of front companies and shipping facilitators” linked to Sepehr Energy Jahan Nama Pars Company, described as the oil-sales arm of Iran’s Armed Forces General Staff. Treasury said that between early January and early February 2025 the Panama-flagged Kallista “transported nearly four million barrels of Iranian oil.”
The ship was identified as blocked property, restricting dealings with US persons.
Altomare said in a statement to Greek media that it learned of the designation with “complete surprise and disappointment.” The company insisted the vessel was not carrying Iranian crude and said that, according to the US announcement itself, the ship was loading in Basra for Paradip, India. It stated it has “absolutely no connection” with the alleged events, adheres to US and EU sanctions and has engaged advisers to challenge what it considers an erroneous listing.
The OFAC designation notes Altomare was established in 2001. Ship-tracking data show that it manages the tanker Kallista, built in 2010 in South Korea, with Mercury Shipservices S.A. as registered owner.
The sanctions package additionally included several UAE-, Panama- and India-based companies accused of supporting Sepehr Energy Jahan’s oil exports. Analysts cited in maritime publications said the measures heighten compliance risks for tanker operators.
