The US State Department has said the economic penalties are necessary to \u2018stem the flow of revenue\u2019 to Tehran.<\/p>\n
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The United States has sanctioned 14 nautical vessels as part of what it calls a \u201cshadow fleet\u201d circumventing restrictions on the transport of Iranian oil and petroleum products.<\/p>\n
In addition, the country\u2019s Department of State also announced sanctions against two people and 15 entities \u2014 including ship management companies based in countries like China, Liberia and Turkiye \u2014 for having \u201ctraded in Iranian-origin crude oil, petroleum products or petrochemical products\u201d.<\/p>\n
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The US has a long history of sanctions against Iran and its oil sector. But the latest slate of sanctions on Friday comes as the two countries hold talks in Oman<\/a> to try to lessen the escalating tensions between them.<\/p>\n In a statement<\/a> on Friday, the US State Department signalled that the new sanctions were designed to support the antigovernment protests that have gripped Iran in recent months.<\/p>\n \u201cTime and time again, the Iranian government has\u202fprioritized\u202fits\u202fdestabilizing behavior\u202fover the safety and security of its own citizens, as\u202fdemonstrated\u202fby the regime\u2019s mass murder of peaceful protestors,\u201d the statement read.<\/p>\n The State Department added that it would continue to impose economic penalties on any individual or group that helps to prop up Iran\u2019s economy.<\/p>\n Its aim was to \u201cstem the flow of revenue that the regime\u202fin Tehran\u202fuses to support terrorism abroad\u202fand repress its\u202fcitizens\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cThe\u202fUnited States will continue to\u202fact\u202fagainst the network\u202fof\u202fshippers and traders\u202finvolved in the transport and acquisition of Iranian crude oil,\u202fpetroleum products, and petrochemical products, which\u202fconstitutes\u202fthe regime\u2019s primary source of income,\u201d the State Department said.<\/p>\n The sanctions are the latest step in a mounting pressure campaign under the administration of US President Donald Trump.<\/p>\n Over the last month, Trump has voiced a willingness to take further military action against Iran, following the air strikes he authorised on three Iranian nuclear facilities in June of last year.<\/p>\n