The U.S. Department of Justice charged two Iranian nationals, Amir Dianat and Kamran Lajmiri, with money laundering and sanctions violations. Prosecutors allege that the two laundered money through a network of front companies to buy a petroleum tanker, the Nautic, to transport Iranian oil. The scheme allegedly involved the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Qods Force (IRGC-QF) and the National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC). According to prosecutors, the defendants used Mr. Dianat’s company Taif Mining Services LLC to buy the tanker, but $10 million of the payment was frozen by a U.S. bank because of money laundering and sanctions concerns. The seller later obtained a civil court order that allowed authorities in the United Arab Emirates to seize the tanker. U.S. prosecutors also filed a civil forfeiture complaint in an effort to reclaim the $12.3 million used to purchase the tanker. Separately, the U.S. Department of the Treasury blacklisted Mr. Dianat and Taif Mining Services LLC. Dianat and Lajmiri remain at large and could face up to 20 years in prison if convicted.