The United States has imposed sanctions on three entities and identified three vessels as blocked property to stop the flow of revenue used by the Iranian regime to finance its destabilizing activities. The measures, announced by the Department of State and the Department of the Treasury, target the ghost fleet vessels conducting ship-to-ship transfer operations outside port limits in Southeast Asia.
The sanctions aim to disrupt Iran's illicit oil trade and limit the financial resources available to corrupt officials. The Iranian regime is accused of stealing its nation's oil wealth with the help of Mohsen Paknejad, the head of Iran's Oil Ministry. Today's action advances President Trump's policy of maximum pressure on the Iranian regime, which seeks to end Iran's nuclear threat, curtail its ballistic missile program, and stop it from supporting or rebuilding its terrorist proxy groups.
The Department of State is taking action pursuant to Executive Order 13846, which targets transactions involving petroleum from Iran. The Department of the Treasury is acting under Executive Order 13902, which targets Iran's petroleum and petrochemical sectors. These sanctions mark the third round of sanctions targeting Iranian oil sales since President Trump issued National Security Presidential Memorandum 2 on February 4, 2025.
The move is part of a broader effort to curb malign activities, limit financial resources available to corrupt officials, and hold the regime accountable using all available tools. The United States will continue to disrupt illicit funding to drive Iran's oil exports to zero, especially to China.
As part of this campaign, the Department of State has sanctioned three entities that provide services to the ghost fleet vessels conducting ship-to-ship transfer operations outside port limits in Southeast Asia. The Iranian Oil Minister, Mohsen Paknejad, and several entities transporting Iranian oil to China have also been designated as blocked property by the Department of the Treasury.
The United States is committed to using all necessary tools to enforce its policies and protect national security interests.