US sanctions companies alleged to be shipping Iranian oil to China

The US Treasury Department has sanctioned over 20 companies involved in the shipment of Iranian crude oil to China as part of the Trump administration’s “maximum pressure” campaign against Tehran. These sanctions target entities linked to Sepehr Energy, which the US claims is affiliated with Iran’s Armed Forces and facilitates oil sales to Chinese “teapot” refineries, using deceptive practices to obscure the oil’s origin. Despite President Trump’s offer of a peaceful resolution to Iran, he warned of intensified pressure if Iran does not accept diplomatic overtures, reaffirming the US’s commitment to countering Tehran’s oil trade and funding for terrorism.