News - Yemen: The Humanitarian Operations Coordination Center (HOCC) announced Tuesday the imposition of sanctions on 13 entities, nine individuals, and two assets linked to the United States, citing violations of the US crude oil export ban, officially designated under Resolution No. PD-05-25-001.

In a statement, the center said that these entities, individuals, and assets were added to the PAYAIS List for “facilitating the export, re-export, transport, loading, purchase, or sale of US crude oil from American ports, directly or indirectly, including ship-to-ship transfers in whole or in part, through third parties.”

The decision targets companies operating in the energy and maritime shipping sectors, as well as board chairmen, executives, and certain assets linked to them.

The HOCC’s executive director stressed that the sanctions were issued in line with Resolution No. PD-05-25-001, which came into effect on May 17, 2025, at 00:01 a.m. Sana’a time, and in application of the principle of reciprocity outlined in Law No. (5) of 1445 AH. The move is framed as a response to US sanctions previously imposed by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) on June 20, July 22, and September 11, 2025.

The center added that Yemen would use all available means to counter any hostile measures against Yemen, affirming it would not tolerate any violation of its sovereignty, security, or stability, and would exercise its legitimate right to reciprocal measures.

The decision was also made under Law No. (5) of 1445 AH regarding the classification of hostile states, entities, and persons against Yemen, Resolution PD-05-25-001 banning US crude oil exports, the Sanctions Regulation on Perpetrators of Aggression Against Yemen (SR-PAYAIS), and the authority granted to the HOCC under Article (7-b) of the same regulation.

This step comes in response to escalating US measures against Yemen and reflects the policy of reciprocity adopted by Yemen to confront “hostile actions” threatening its sovereignty.

Analysts note that the sanctions highlight Yemen’s readiness to confront any attempts at interference in its economic and security affairs—particularly in the oil sector, which remains a strategic pillar of the global economy.

They further argue that the move places American companies in a legal and commercial dilemma, underlining how politics and economics intertwine in international conflicts, with oil used as both a pressure tool and a strategic lever in confronting hostile policies.

The sanctions send a clear message that Yemen will not tolerate violations of its sovereignty and will employ all legal, diplomatic, and economic measures to safeguard its interests.

Classifying the entities, individuals, and assets on the PAYAIS sanctions list marks a qualitative step in countering US violations of Yemen’s sovereignty-related resolutions and underscores Yemen’s active role in defending its economic and strategic interests, while seeking to balance punishment with positive change in international behavior.