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The US Treasury Department has sanctioned more than 20 companies that are involved in the transport of Iranian raw oil worth billions of dollars in China, the latest movement in the “Maximum Pressure” Campaign of the Trump administration in Tehran.
The Foreign Treasury Assets Control Office said it was sanctioning nearly two dozen groups involved in Iran’s “illegal international oil trade”.
“Today’s action underlines our constant focus on intensifying pressure in every aspect of oil trade in Iran, which the regime uses to finance its dangerous and destabilizing activities,” said Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.
He said the US will “continue to aim for this main source of income, as long as the regime continues its support for terrorism and the spread of deadly weapons.”
The action aims at a number of Hong Kong -based entities that the US claims to be the first companies for Sephr Energy, a trade co -worker of the general staff of the Iranian Armed Forces.
SH.BA said Sephr Energy was using companies, which include Xin Rui Ji, Star Energy and Milen Trading, to mediate and receive Iranian oil shipments submitted to “Teapot” refineries – independent entities that have long been considered chinese Iranian buyers raw.
He said the companies were set up in China and operated there, but their commercial activities were controlled by Sephr Energy and its officials, at least one of which was sanctioned by the US
The treasure said that after a sale of oil was over, the income was sent by front companies back to AFGS. She added that sales income is subject to “the development of ballistic missiles and unmanned air vehicles, as well as the financing of regional terrorist groups”.
SH.BA is also sanctioning CCIC Singapore, which he says cheated on Iranian oil origin through ship transfers, oil mixing and falsification of documents, and a number of Hong Kong -based enterprises he said as a mediator between Sephr Energy and Chinese Refineries Teapot.
The treasure action also aimed at the aging fleet of the “Fleed Shadow” oil tankers used by Sephr Energy to facilitate Iranian oil shipments to China.
Recent sanctions are part of a wide blow to Chinese entities that the US accuses of purchasing or facilitating the purchase of Iranian raw oil. They are part of Washington’s strategy to put pressure on Iran while negotiating with him on his nuclear program.
In a speech at a US-Saudi investment conference on Tuesday, President Donald Trump said he wanted to avoid conflict with Iran, offering Tehran a “new and a better way to a much more hopeful future”.
But he added: “If Iran’s leadership rejects this olive branch … We will have no choice but to cause maximum mass pressure (and) drive Iranian oil exports to zero.”
In March, the treasure imposed sanctions for a “Teapot” Chinese refinery for the first time. It targeted such a second structure last month.
The movements marked a renewable effort by the US to hit Iranian oil exports after criticism that the Biden administration did not take a very strong action.
In April, the Treasury imposed sanctions on the Shandong Schengxing Chemical for allegedly buying more than 1bn dollars in raw Iranian in violation of American sanctions from sources that included a front company for the Islamic revolutionary Guard of Tehran.
Beijing has repeatedly criticized US sanctions and accused Washington or using a “long -wing jurisdiction” that undermines international trade.
