US Imposes New Sanctions on Illicit Petroleum Traders to Support Iranian People.
Washington:
The United States has announced a new round of sanctions aimed at cutting off financial resources used by the Iranian regime to oppress its people, the Department of the Treasury said today.
As part of the action, the Treasury Department imposed sanctions on eight entities and nine vessels linked to Iran’s so-called “shadow fleet.” These entities are accused of shipping hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of Iranian petroleum and petroleum products, including liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), in violation of international sanctions. US officials said the revenues generated from these activities have helped finance the Iranian regime and its security forces.
The move comes amid growing unrest in Iran, where citizens continue to protest what the United States described as catastrophic economic mismanagement by the regime. Despite widespread hardship, including massive inflation, deteriorating infrastructure, and persistent shortages of water and electricity, the Iranian government has continued to channel resources toward foreign proxies, missile programs, and internal repression rather than addressing the basic needs of its population.
US authorities emphasized that the Iranian people are not benefiting from the country’s natural wealth, as the regime has consistently failed to prioritize domestic welfare. Instead, officials said, oil and petroleum revenues are being diverted to fund destabilizing regional activities and suppress dissent at home.
According to the Treasury Department, the latest sanctions are intended to further restrict Iran’s ability to export petroleum and petroleum products through obscure and fraudulent mechanisms. By targeting vessels and entities involved in these networks, the United States aims to limit the regime’s capacity to generate revenue that supports repression of its citizens and other malign international behavior.
The US government reaffirmed its commitment to implementing National Security Presidential Memorandum 2 (NSPM-2), which directs the application of maximum pressure on the Iranian regime to deprive it of revenues used for destabilizing activities. Today’s measures were taken pursuant to Executive Order 13902, which targets Iran’s petroleum and petrochemical sectors.
Officials noted that the action builds on the broader sanctions campaign to restrict Iranian oil sales, in line with NSPM-2 issued by the President on February 4, 2025. The United States said it will continue to use all available tools to hold the Iranian regime accountable while standing in support of the Iranian people.
