WASHINGTON: United States has imposed the first batch of sanctions against Iran since Donald Trump returns to the White House, as the president pushes to reimpose “maximum pressure” on Tehran.
The US Treasury announced the sanctions on Thursday, saying that they are aimed at Iran’s “oil network”.
The measures targeted firms, ships and individuals affiliated with companies already sanctioned by the US. Under former President Joe Biden, the US routinely issued such penalties to enforce existing sanctions.
“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,” Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent said in a statement.
“The United States is committed to aggressively targeting any attempt by Iran to secure funding for these malign activities.”
Iran has long rejected sanctions against its oil sector and efforts to confiscate its exports as “piracy”.
