The United States has imposed new sanctions targeting networks and companies involved in Iran's oil exports, escalating economic pressure aimed at curbing Tehran's financial resources used for military buildup and regional destabilization. The U.S. Department of the Treasury announced that its Office of Foreign Assets Control has taken additional measures against what it described as oil sales networks affiliated with Iran's armed forces. Washington accuses Tehran of employing front companies, vessels, and complex financial mechanisms to market crude oil and generate revenue for the Iranian military and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott stated that Washington will continue to exert pressure on Iranian oil exports to prevent the Iranian government from acquiring funds necessary for rebuilding its armed forces and expanding its military capabilities. He added that the U.S. administration will not permit increased Iranian oil revenues that could be used to threaten U.S. partners and allies in the Middle East. The Treasury Department clarified that the new sanctions are part of the "maximum economic pressure" policy adopted by the Trump administration towards Iran, which includes pursuing financing, shipping, and trading networks associated with Iranian oil. The State Department also announced a reward of up to $15 million for information leading to the disruption of financial networks belonging to the IRGC and its affiliates. Washington has accused Sepah Energy Jahan, a company linked to the General Staff of Iran's Armed Forces, of managing an extensive network for exporting Iranian oil through companies and vessels operating outside official channels. The company allegedly used entities based in the United Arab Emirates and Hong Kong to charter oil tankers and transport shipments to China in 2024 and 2025. The sanctions target companies that provided logistical and financial support to Iranian oil networks, including those involved in shipping, trade, and oil storage. These entities are accused of facilitating the transfer of millions of barrels of Iranian crude oil to Chinese ports and purchasing petroleum products for the National Iranian Oil Company. The measures also include vessels Washington claims were used in transporting Iranian oil as part of what it terms the "unofficial fleet," a network of tankers relied upon by Tehran to circumvent international sanctions. In a related development, the Treasury Department warned against transactions related to the transit of the Strait of Hormuz, emphasizing that any payments or services rendered to entities affiliated with the IRGC could expose individuals and companies to U.S. sanctions. The sanctions include freezing assets and property of designated individuals and entities within the United States or under U.S. control, and imposing restrictions on foreign financial institutions that facilitate transactions for sanctioned parties. The Treasury Department reiterated that the sanctions aim to alter Iran's behavior and its financial networks, noting that designated companies and individuals can file legal requests to have their names removed from sanctions lists according to established procedures. |
