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The US has slapped new sanctions on an international network of tankers and crew that facilitate the shipment of Iranian oil to China, as President Donald Trump’s administration applies “maximum pressure” on the Islamic Republic’s economy.
According to the state department, the sanctions target a network that is bringing “illicit revenue to the Iranian military” through a front company, Sepehr Energy. Also included are a shadow tanker fleet and management companies that facilitate the supply of oil to China, the Treasury said.
The network, which includes nodes in India and the United Arab Emirates, carries millions of barrels of oil to China, with hundreds of millions of dollars flowing to Iran’s Armed Forces General Staff, the US said.
Sepehr was designated in 2023 but the new sanctions go further by targeting the network underpinning Iran’s oil sales, including tanker masters and companies providing crew to vessels transporting Iranian oil, including an Indian company that claims to have more than 100 vessels under management.
“The Iranian regime remains focused on leveraging its oil revenues to fund the development of its nuclear programme, to produce its deadly ballistic missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles, and to support its regional terrorist proxy groups,” said Treasury secretary Scott Bessent. “The United States is committed to aggressively targeting any attempt by Iran to secure funding for these malign activities.”
The targeting of individual oil tankers has proven to be a broadly effective tactic in crimping the ability of Russia’s “shadow fleet” to operate smoothly. The Trump administration is now applying this to Iran, with the new president saying that the US has “the right” to block the sale of Iranian oil to other nations.
Trump on Tuesday signed a presidential memorandum directing his administration to impose “maximum pressure” on Iran, including through the use of new sanctions and the enforcement of existing measures.
“This looks like a rigorous effort to reduce Iranian exports on top of reactivating the huge body of original measures,” said Helima Croft at RBC Capital Markets.
“Trump appears to be signalling he will push hard for a new nuclear deal as opposed to a new government.”
The new sanctions also target the crews of vessels that have continued to operate despite the sanctions on them, highlighting a previously designated vessel once called Anthea that changed its name to SIRI.
“Iranian national Arash Lavian serves as the SIRI’s master and has taken steps to falsify shipping documents and physically hide the true name of the SIRI to conceal that the vessel is sanctioned,” the Treasury department said.
The US has also designated a sizeable Indian company called Marshal Ship Management PVT that provides crew and shipping services. Its website says it has more than 3,000 crew operating globally and in excess of 110 vessels under management.
“Crew members provided by Marshal Ship Management Private Limited have aided Sepehr Energy in falsifying shipping documents and presenting those documents to port authorities,” the Treasury said.
The company did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Trump has made clear that he wants to pressure Iran to rein in its nuclear programme and its regional support for militants. “It’s very simple. Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon,” he said in the Oval Office on Tuesday.
But he signalled he was willing to hold talks with Tehran, adding that while his new memo was “tough” on the Islamic Republic, he was “torn” about signing it.
“We will see whether or not we can arrange or work out a deal with Iran and everybody can live together,” he said.
