US expands sanctions on Iran’s oil, petrochemical network, targeting over 50 entities

The US Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has announced a sweeping new round of sanctions targeting Iran’s petroleum and petrochemical sectors, intensifying pressure on the Iranian regime by designating more than 50 individuals, entities, and vessels linked to the export of Iranian oil and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG).

The sanctioned network is accused of facilitating the sale and shipment of billions of dollars’ worth of petroleum products, which the US government says provides vital revenue to Tehran and fuels its support for terrorist organizations that threaten American and allied interests, Caliber.Az reports.

Among the targets are nearly two dozen vessels operating within Iran’s so-called "shadow fleet," a China-based crude oil terminal, and an independent “teapot” refinery—all of which have played a key role in enabling Iran to evade sanctions and continue its energy exports.

“Treasury is dismantling critical components of Iran’s energy export infrastructure, thereby degrading its revenue streams,” said US Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent. “Under President Trump, this administration remains committed to disrupting the regime’s ability to fund terrorism and regional destabilization.”

This latest action, carried out under Executive Orders 13902 and 13846, is the fourth round of sanctions in recent months targeting Chinese refineries and firms continuing to purchase Iranian oil in defiance of Us sanctions. It builds on similar enforcement actions taken in July and August as part of a broader campaign of “maximum economic pressure” laid out in National Security Presidential Memorandum 2 (NSPM-2).

The US government has long accused Iran of using oil revenues to finance militant groups and destabilise the Middle East. Officials say these new sanctions are part of a coordinated effort to block Iran’s access to international financial systems and reduce its capacity to fund malign activities abroad.

By Sabina Mammadli