The United States on Thursday announced a new round of Iran-related sanctions, targeting one individual and several entities, including a Chinese oil refinery, for purchasing and processing Iranian crude oil. The sanctions, listed on the Treasury Department’s website, mark Washington’s fourth round of penalties against Iran’s oil sector since February.
The latest measures are part of former President Donald Trump’s reimposed “maximum pressure” campaign, aimed at reducing Iran’s oil exports to zero. The campaign seeks to prevent Tehran from developing nuclear weapons and funding militant groups. Iran, however, insists that its nuclear program is solely for peaceful purposes, while Western nations argue that its uranium enrichment—approaching weapons-grade levels—lacks any logical civilian use.
China, the largest importer of Iranian oil, has been a key player in circumventing US sanctions. Among the newly sanctioned entities is Shandong Shouguang Luqing Petrochemical Co., Ltd., a Chinese “teapot” refinery. The move underscores Washington’s ongoing efforts to curb Iran’s oil revenue by pressuring its international buyers.
As tensions over Iran’s nuclear ambitions persist, the latest sanctions highlight the geopolitical struggle between the US and its adversaries over energy, security, and economic influence.
Melissa Enoch
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