They had such typically Persian names as: Sandford Group; New Desire; Advance Novel; Best Precise, Great Method and Trade Treasure!
Another four shipping companies were all at another Hong Kong address.
The final four shipping firms were all at the same address on the Isle of Man, which is a tiny, 220-square mile self-governing British Crown Dependency, located in the Irish Sea between Great Britain and Ireland. The island is not part of the United Kingdom, but its foreign relations and defense are the responsibility of the UK government. Although London does not usually interfere in the island’s domestic matters, its “good government” is ultimately the responsibility of the United Kingdom, which is presumably not pleased at Iranian front companies setting up shop on the Isle of Man.
Meanwhile, India Public Sector News reported last week that the Irano-Hind Shipping Co., an Iranian-Indian joint venture, has not been able to make payments for the Taj Mahal, a ship being built for the firm in South Korea. The news service said the joint venture “had to make initial payment from its internal resources as banks were not ready to give loans. The company is now not in a condition to make final payment.”