• The US Treasury has imposed sanctions on an international network implicated in facilitating the shipment of Iranian oil to China.
• The sanctions target individuals and companies across China, India, and the UAE, including maritime operations linked to Iran's military.
• This move aims to disrupt funding that supports Iran's nuclear program and regional militant groups.

The U.S. Treasury Department announced on Thursday significant sanctions aimed at an interconnected network accused of facilitating the shipment of millions of barrels of Iranian oil to China. The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) detailed that these measures target a combination of individuals and firms from multiple nations, including China, India, and the United Arab Emirates. According to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, “The Iranian regime remains focused on leveraging its oil revenues to fund the development of its nuclear program, to produce its deadly ballistic missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles, and to support its regional terrorist proxy groups,” he stated in an official release. The sanctions specifically target Sepehr Energy, identified as a front company through which Iran's Armed Forces General Staff conducts oil shipping operations. Several vessels involved in these shipments, as well as other entities operating in the maritime domain, have also been sanctioned. In an effort to mitigate Iran's capability to fund destabilizing activities, U.S. authorities emphasized their commitment to utilizing all available strategies to hold the Iranian regime accountable for its pursuit of nuclear weaponry. State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce reiterated that “we will use all tools at our disposal to hold the regime accountable for its destabilizing activities that threaten the civilized world,” with emphasis on disrupting illicit funding streams that support the Iranian armed forces and affiliated terrorist organizations. Earlier in the week, President Donald Trump signed an executive order mandating his administration to intensify its approach to Iran, directing Treasury to enact a maximum pressure approach aimed specifically at critical sectors of Iran's economy. This order aligns with previous measures taken by the Trump administration, indicating a continuation of aggressive policies towards Tehran amidst ongoing nuclear disarmament negotiations. The recent sanctions reflect a broader strategy intended to cut access to crucial revenues generated from these oil exports. For further details, refer to the complete articles from SCMP, India Times, AP News, The Hill, and VOA News.