Washington issues further sanctions aimed at Iran’s trade with China

The US on Tuesday announced fresh sanctions on Iranian oil sales to China, as president Donald Trump’s administration continues its “maximum pressure” campaign against Tehran. 

The US Treasury said that it is sanctioning nearly two dozen firms that it alleges facilitate Iran’s international oil trade. Sanctioned entities include so-called front companies based in China and Hong Kong.

The Treasury also targeted a VLCC called Balu and an LR1 product tanker called Roc, which officials accused of being used by Sepehr Energy official Elyas Niroomand Toomaj, who was previously sanctioned to facilitate shipments of Iranian oil to China.

“Today’s action underscores our continued focus on intensifying pressure on every aspect of Iran’s oil trade, which the regime uses to fund its dangerous and destabilising activities,” said Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent.  “The United States will continue targeting this primary source of revenue, so long as the regime continues its support for terrorism and proliferation of deadly weapons.”

The sanctions follow similar designations in recent weeks, at the same time as Washington and Tehran have stepped up nuclear talks.