New signs of the presence of companies with a history of connection to the Shamkhani family in Shahid Rajaee Port, one of Iran's most important export hubs, have raised serious questions about the influence of a vast shipping network in the country's vital infrastructure; a network that the U.S. Treasury Department has linked to over 200 individuals, companies, and vessels over the past two years, and identified as one of the main axes of sanctions evasion.
Barman Sahel Arvand; A Company Active at the Heart of Port Operations
In narratives coming from Shahid Rajaee Port, the name "Barman Sahel Arvand" is repeated more than others, a company that openly advertises its activities in ship representation, port operations, and loading and unloading management in Iran's northern and southern ports.
The company's registration records show that Abolfazl Shamkhani, son of Ali Shamkhani, was involved in Barman's management structure at the time of its establishment. Also, the name Seyed Davood Hosseinzadeh Nodehi is registered as the current CEO in the Iranian Shipping Association's list.
This background, along with the extensive development of the Shamkhani family's shipping network, has brought Barman's current activities in Iran's ports under scrutiny again; especially when the name Mohammadreza Rahbarmadani enters the case.
The Financial Ring; From Rahbarmadani to the Shamkhani Global Network
On 14 July 2026, the U.S. Treasury Department identified and sanctioned Mohammadreza Rahbarmadani as one of the main financial suppliers of the Mohammad Hossein Shamkhani network. According to the Treasury, Rahbarmadani and other financial partners of the network have provided access to foreign currency, cover companies, and financial routes outside Iran for this group. These sanctions are based on previous packages issued in 2025 and 2024, which show that the Shamkhani network has evolved from a regional shipping company into a complex global structure.
A Network That Evolved from Tankers to Container Ships
Mohammad Hossein Shamkhani, son of Ali Shamkhani, has been at the center of one of the largest sanction-related cases involving Iranian shipping since 2025. In July 2025, the U.S. Treasury Department linked over 50 individuals and companies and more than 50 ships to his network, claiming that this group has been moving Iranian and Russian oil in global markets using intermediary companies, continuous changes in ship owners and managers, and complex corporate structures.
Family Background; From Admiral to Arvand Free Zone
The Shamkhani family's economic activities began years before this case. Admiral Shipping Company was established around 1390 under the management of Hossein Shamkhani and expanded its operations in the Persian Gulf, Indian Ocean, and East Asia routes within a few years. The seizure of the "Kabul" ship in India's Kandla port in 1400, which was attributed to this group in Iranian media, brought the family's name back to the headlines. In the Arvand Free Zone, too, Mooud Shamkhani, nephew of Ali Shamkhani, was arrested in 1403; Iranian media reported the charges against him as "bribery and financial corruption".
Internationally, OCCRP investigations in 2026 revealed that Abolfazl and Mohammad Hossein Shamkhani, using Dominican names, purchased a series of luxury properties in Dubai worth approximately 29 million dollars. Following the publication of these investigations, the Dominican government revoked Abolfazl Shamkhani's citizenship.
A family that today, from trustee cases or creating a shadow fleet to circumvent sanctions and presence in executive management, has a pervasive activity in Iran's political and economic structure, to single-handedly claim a family cartel in Iran's corrupt economy.
