New US sanctions target 50 people, companies and vessels for allegedly aiding Iran’s oil and gas trade

The Trump administration on Thursday banned a group of 50 people, companies and ships, most of whom are outside united arab emiratesHong Kong and Chinaalleged that they were facilitating the shipment Iranian Sale of oil and liquefied petroleum gas.

The penalties include two dozen “shadow fleet” ships that, flagged in multiple countries, hid the origin of Iranian oil and evaded earlier sanctions; China based crude oil terminal; and a non-state owned sugar refinery. treasury department He said they are key to Iran’s ability to export petroleum and petroleum products.

The department said the entities and individuals cited enabled the export of billions of dollars worth of oil and gas products, thereby aiding the government of Iran.

The administration is citing a collection of executive orders signed by the Republican president donald trumpIncluding a message from February calling on the United States to “bring Iran’s oil exports to zero.”

Among other things, the sanctions deny people and companies access to any assets or financial assets held in the US and prevent US businesses and citizens from doing business with them.

Trump’s “maximum pressure” on Iran is to deny Tehran access to nuclear weapons, and during the summer, the US and Israel engaged in multiple bombings of Tehran’s nuclear and military sites.

The United Nations reimposed sanctions on Iran in September over its nuclear program, increasing pressure on the country as food prices continue to rise and Iranians fear their future. Iran’s rial currency is at a record low, putting pressure on food prices and making daily life more challenging.

Since January, the administration has imposed sanctions on 166 ships linked to Iranian oil trade. The new sanctions target a second Chinese oil terminal and a fourth independently owned refinery in China.

Treasury Secretary Scott Besant said in a statement that the administration was hindering the Iranian government’s “ability to fund terrorist groups that threaten the United States.”