The United States has announced fresh sanctions targeting individuals and companies accused of facilitating Iranian oil shipments to China, intensifying pressure on Tehran ahead of planned talks between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping.
The latest measures, announced by the U.S. Department of the Treasury, sanction three individuals and nine companies, including firms based in Hong Kong, the UAE, and Oman, for allegedly helping transport and sell Iranian oil linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
According to the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), the sanctions target networks accused of using front companies and shadow-fleet tankers to transport Iranian crude oil to China.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Washington would continue using sanctions to restrict funding channels tied to Iran’s military, weapons development, and regional proxy activities.
“Treasury will continue to cut the Iranian regime off from the financial networks it uses to carry out terrorist acts and to destabilize the global economy,” Bessent said.
The U.S. Department of State also announced a reward of up to $15 million for information that could disrupt the IRGC’s financial mechanisms and those of its affiliated branches.
US authorities said the IRGC relies on shell companies and intermediaries to coordinate payments and shipments tied to Iranian oil exports. Officials added that the latest action builds on sanctions imposed in July 2025 against Turkey-based Golden Globe, which Washington accused of facilitating hundreds of millions of dollars in annual Iranian oil sales.
Among the companies sanctioned are:
- Hong Kong Blue Ocean Ltd and Hong Kong Sanmu Ltd are accused of acting as cover companies for Iranian oil sales and shipments.
- Ocean Allianz Shipping LLC and Atic Energy FZE, which allegedly facilitated oil shipments using sanctioned shadow fleet tankers.
- Zeus Logistics Group is accused of arranging vessels to transport Iranian oil cargoes.
- Jiandi HK Ltd, which the Treasury said signed agreements to purchase Iranian oil from the IRGC.
- Max Honor International Trade Co Ltd, accused of purchasing millions of barrels of Iranian oil in 2025.
- Blanca Goods Wholesaler LLC and Universal Fortune Trading LLC, which US authorities said were used as front companies linked to the National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC).
The sanctions come amid heightened geopolitical tensions surrounding Iran’s oil exports and security concerns over the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global energy shipping route.
