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U.S. Targets China-Based Refinery and 7 Entities, 5 Tankers in Sanctions Against Iran's Over $1 Billion Oil Trade, Aiming to Reduce Illicit Exports to Zero

11 posts • Grok (2)

Updated Apr 17, 2025, 09:11 PM

The U.S. Treasury Department has escalated its sanctions against Iran, targeting the country's oil and energy sector as part of a renewed 'Maximum Pressure' campaign. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent emphasized that any entity involved in purchasing or facilitating the trade of Iranian oil faces significant risks, as the U.S. aims to disrupt Iran's oil supply chain, which supports its terrorist proxies and partners.

The sanctions include a China-based independent 'teapot' refinery, Shandong Shengxing Chemical Co., Ltd., for purchasing over a billion dollars' worth of Iranian crude oil, some of which was sourced from a front company for Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Qods Force (IRGC-QF). Additionally, 7 entities and 5 tankers involved in facilitating Iranian oil shipments to China have been targeted, marking the sixth round of sanctions since the initiation of the campaign under National Security Presidential Memorandum 2. The actions are taken pursuant to Executive Order 13902, targeting Iran's petroleum sector.

The U.S. State Department has also reiterated President Trump's commitment to reducing Iran's illicit oil exports to zero, with full enforcement of all sanctions as part of the maximum pressure campaign against Iran. The State Department is also taking actions to disrupt the financial networks supporting the Houthi rebels in Yemen, aiming to dismantle Iran's broader threat network. Iran's use of a 'shadow fleet' to obfuscate its petroleum shipments has been highlighted, with Shandong Shengxing sending more than $800 million in wire transfers to China Oil and Petroleum Company Limited (COPC), an IRGC-QF front company, which laundered billions through the U.S. financial system, resulting in $108 million being seized by the U.S. Justice Department.

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kambiz mahmoudpour

@boghche

Urgent: Iran regime's new sanctions against oil industry The U.S. Treasury Department sanctioned seven entities and five tankers because of their ties to Iranian oil exports. Companies that have been sanctioned include oil tankers from Panama, Hong Kong, Malaysia, China and the Marshall Islands. #نه_شاه_نه_شیخ https://t.co/sslRwKNiGM

USAbehFarsi

@USABehFarsi

. @statedeptspox: USA is taking decisive action to stop the massacres by Iran and the death squads of this regime. By sanctioning another T-Pot refinery in China for buying Iranian oil, we are quickly stopping the financing of terrorism. Maximum pressure means hunting for undoers https://t.co/IaPFB5rIG5

Tammy Bruce

@statedeptspox

The United States is taking decisive actions to stop the carnage caused by Iran and it's death squads. By sanctioning another teapot refinery in China for its purchase of Iranian oil, we are stopping terrorist funding in its tracks. Maximum pressure means catching sanctions

AF Post

@AFpost

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has launched a renewed “Maximum Pressure” campaign targeting Iran’s oil and energy sector. Follow: @AFpost https://t.co/rKvFoqQrUn

EndGameWW3 🇺🇸

@EndGameWW3

Update: US State Department: President Trump is committed to reducing Iran's illicit oil exports to zero.

#Iran #Maximum Pressure #Scott Bessent #Iranian #China #IRGC #Trump #State Department #Houthi rebels #Yemen #Shandong Shengxing #COPC

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Sources

cnn.com home.treasury.gov

الجزيرة - عاجل

@AJABreaking

Urgent | CNN quoted a spokesman for the US State Department: Forwarding humanitarian shipments is common and has happened in the past with goods destined for #اليمن

الجزيرة - عاجل

@AJABreaking

Urgent | CNN quoted a spokesman for the US State Department: We are seriously studying the available options for wheat and we do not intend to allow food to be lost

الجزيرة - عاجل

@AJABreaking

Urgent | CNN quoted a spokesman for the US State Department: Wheat loaded on a ship sailing south of #اليمن will not be wasted

Story Timeline

2 months ago•Latest version

U.S. Targets China-Based Refinery and 7 Entities, 5 Tankers in Sanctions Against Iran's Over $1 Billion Oil Trade, Aiming to Reduce Illicit Exports to Zero

2 months ago

US Sanctions Shandong Shengxing for $1 Billion in Iranian Oil Purchases from IRGC-QF, Targets Shadow Fleet

2 months ago

US Sanctions Chinese Refinery Over $1 Billion in Iranian Oil, Amid Nuclear Talks

2 months ago

US Sanctions Shandong Shengxing Refinery and Shadow Fleet Vessels for $1 Billion in Iranian Oil Purchases

2 months ago•Original version

U.S. Sanctions Shandong Shengxing for $1 Billion in Iranian Oil, Targets IRGC-QF and Shadow Fleet