The U.S. has recently imposed sanctions on individuals and oil tankers in various countries, including China, the UAE, and India, for their alleged involvement in financing Iran and supporting militant groups hostile to the U.S. and its allies. The sanctions, issued by the Treasury and State departments, target over 30 individuals and ships, including key figures in Iran’s oil industry, for facilitating the sale and transportation of Iranian oil. This move marks the second round of sanctions on Iranian oil sales following President Donald Trump’s National Security Presidential Memorandum 2, aimed at reducing Iran’s oil exports to zero and preventing the country from acquiring nuclear weapons.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent emphasized the U.S.’s commitment to disrupting Iran’s oil supply chain and warned that anyone dealing with Iranian oil faces significant sanctions risk. Bessent also criticized the Biden administration’s sanctions approach, advocating for a more robust stance against Iran and Russian entities involved in the oil trade. A report by the U.S. Energy Information Administration estimated that Iran generated $253 billion in oil revenues between 2018 and 2024 under both the Biden and Trump administrations.

State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce reiterated the U.S.’s determination to hold Iran accountable for using its energy revenues to fund attacks on allies, terrorism, and other destabilizing activities. The sanctions underscore the ongoing efforts to curb Iran’s influence and prevent it from engaging in harmful activities that threaten global security and stability.