US Slaps New Sanctions on Iran’s “Shadow Fleet” Over Oil Shipments
The United States has announced a new round of sanctions targeting 35 entities and vessels allegedly involved in transporting Iranian petroleum to international markets, Al Jazeera reports.
The Treasury Department, in a statement released Tuesday, described the targeted entities as part of a “shadow fleet” used to circumvent existing sanctions on Iranian oil and petrochemicals.
These sanctions, similar to those imposed two months ago following Iran’s October 1 missile attack on Israeli military sites and its nuclear advancements, aim to further cripple Iran’s ability to export oil. The Treasury Department highlighted Iran’s use of deceptive tactics, including falsified documentation, manipulation of vessel tracking systems, and frequent changes to vessel names and flags.
The sanctions will freeze the assets of the targeted entities within the US jurisdiction and prohibit Americans from engaging in any financial transactions with them. While Iranian oil and petrochemicals are already subject to extensive US sanctions, the administration claims this latest action is aimed at dismantling the complex network facilitating illicit oil shipments.
The October 1 missile attack, which Tehran framed as retaliation for the alleged killings of Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, and an Iranian general in Beirut, further escalated tensions between Iran and the US. Following the attack, Iranian Ambassador to the UN Amir Saeid Iravani issued a statement asserting Iran’s readiness to defend its interests against aggression.
Iran has previously warned of the potential global consequences of an “energy war,” claiming that such a conflict could disrupt approximately 12 million barrels of daily oil production – roughly 10% of global output.
