US sanctions law firm over alleged links to Iranian shipping, Reuters names Karnakis and Karnakis

As reported by Reuters and Anadolu Agency. The allegations below are theirs, not Vocemundi's.

The United States has imposed sanctions on a law firm over alleged links to Iranian shipping. Both Anadolu Agency and Reuters reported the action.

According to Reuters, the US Treasury Department imposed the sanctions on Wednesday. Reuters identified the firm as Karnakis and Karnakis. It said the firm is based in Panama and Greece.

Anadolu Agency reported that shipping agents were also sanctioned, in addition to the law firm. According to Anadolu Agency, the sanctions relate to alleged links to an Iranian "shadow fleet". The Anadolu Agency report reviewed by Vocemundi consists of a headline only.

The two agencies appear to have reported independently. Both reports appear to be based on the same US government action.

What each side says

• US Treasury Department: According to Reuters, the Treasury said Karnakis and Karnakis has supported Iranian shipping for years. Reuters paraphrased this position. It did not quote the statement directly.
• Karnakis and Karnakis, the shipping agents and the Iranian government: The reports reviewed by Vocemundi do not include any response from these parties.

What remains unclear

The reports reviewed by Vocemundi leave several questions open:

• They do not include the text of the Treasury statement. They also do not say which legal authority was used for the sanctions.
• They do not describe the specific services or conduct that the law firm is alleged to have provided.
• They do not name the shipping agents mentioned by Anadolu Agency. They do not say how many agents there are or where they are based.
• They do not describe the practical effects of the sanctions, such as asset freezes or transaction bans.
• They do not identify any vessels or companies in the alleged "shadow fleet".

The allegations against the firm come from the US government, as reported by Reuters. The reports reviewed by Vocemundi do not show that the allegations have been tested in any court or other independent process.

Vocemundi will update this article if more details become available.

Vocemundi note: this story relays allegations published by Reuters and Anadolu Agency. Vocemundi did not have access to the underlying evidence or documents and has not independently verified these claims. The people and organisations named are presumed innocent; their response is included where it was available.

Analysis

Sanctioning a law firm, rather than only vessels or shipping companies, would extend US measures to professional service providers. If that is the intent, other firms that serve the maritime sector could review their compliance practices. However, the reports reviewed by Vocemundi do not describe what the firm allegedly did. They also do not set out the legal basis for the action. This makes the wider significance hard to judge. Possible next steps include a fuller Treasury explanation, a response or legal challenge from the firm, or reactions from Greece, Panama or Iran. None of these outcomes is confirmed.

Produced by the Vocemundi newsroom with AI assistance.

Transparency note: objections from our AI reviewers

Objections raised before publication:

• Vocemundi automatic checks: tribunal rejected; support 0.667

No reviewer declined to review it.

Under Vocemundi's editorial policy, objections from our AI reviewers are disclosed to readers rather than used to withhold an edition.