U.S. Treasury Department has announced new sanctions against Iran

On Thursday, the United States announced new sanctions related to Iran, focusing on one individual and several entities, including a Chinese “teapot” oil refinery that has been involved in the purchase and processing of Iranian crude oil, as reported on the Treasury Department’s website. This marks the fourth round of sanctions imposed by Washington on Iran’s oil sales since President Donald Trump declared in February his intention to reinstate a “maximum pressure” campaign aimed at reducing exports to zero. Trump’s objective is to prevent Tehran from acquiring nuclear weapons and financing militant organizations.

China remains the largest importer of Iranian oil. The refinery specifically targeted by the Treasury is Shandong Shouguang Luqing Petrochemical Co., Ltd., located in China. While Tehran asserts that its nuclear energy program is intended for peaceful purposes, Western nations contend that its uranium enrichment activities, which approach weapons-grade levels, lack any plausible civilian justification.