The United States has broadened its sanctions against Iran's oil sector, once again targeting the prominent oil shipping business network led by Mohammad Hossein Shamkhani, as announced by the U.S. Treasury Department on Tuesday.
The Treasury Department stated in Tuesday's release that “this measure is part of the ongoing efforts to intensify economic pressure on the Iranian regime following its resumed destabilizing attacks in the Strait of Hormuz.”
The department accused Shamkhani's network of remaining a major force behind Iranian oil exports while expanding into global commodity trading.
The latest action targets over 50 individuals, entities, and vessels that the department claims have enabled Iranian authorities to profit.
Separately, the U.S. Treasury issued a general license on Tuesday permitting the conclusion of certain activities and transactions related to safety, environmental concerns, and the discharge of shipments involving sanctioned individuals or vessels as of July 14.
The U.S. Treasury added that it has so far imposed sanctions on more than 200 individuals, entities, and vessels operating under Shamkhani's auspices.
Shamkhani is the son of the late security official Ali Shamkhani, who served as an advisor to Iran's former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Both were killed in the early stages of the U.S.-Israeli offensive on Tehran on February 28.