Washington sanctions ‘international network’ for shipping illicit Iranian oil to China

The Trump administration has sanctioned several vessels and entities involved with transporting illicit Iranian crude oil to China.

IMAGE: Flags of the US and Iran. Getty Images

In an effort to drive Tehran’s oil exports down to zero, the US Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has sanctioned several shipping companies and vessels. The targeted companies have allegedly involved in generating revenues to support regional armed groups, including the Yemen-based Houthis and the Lebanon-based Hezbollah.

The crude oil shipped to China was on behalf of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran (AFGS) and previously sanctioned energy company Sepehr Energy, OFAC said. The news has reiterated the US government’s stance on tighter sanctions against Iran and supported Brent crude’s price gains.

Oil gained following “Washington’s move on Thursday to slap sanctions on a network of companies and tankers shipping Iranian crude to China,” VANDA Insights’ founder and analyst Vandana Hari said.

The US treasury department has sanctioned Comoros-flagged and sanctioned oil tanker Anthea, which also goes by Siri and New Prime. They were sanctioned for operating off the coast of Singapore “laden with millions of barrels of Iranian crude oil in the interest of Sepehr Energy and the AFGS,” OFAC said.

OFAC has also sanctioned Cameroon-flagged Oxis for delivering about 2 million bbls of Iranian oil to China in December 2024, worth over $100 million. The Panama-flagged Gioiosa delivered about 700,000 bbls of crude oil to China, OFAC further said.

The US treasury department has also sanctioned three other vessels and several entities on similar grounds.

By Aparupa Mazumder

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