By Tiffany Williams –
WASHINGTON — The United States is intensifying pressure on the Iranian regime, targeting its shadow fleet and petroleum operations in a bid to cut off resources used to oppress its people.
The Department of the Treasury on Friday announced sanctions on eight Iranian entities and nine vessels involved in shipping hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of petroleum and petroleum products, including liquefied petroleum gas. Officials said the shipments directly fund the regime and its security forces, even as ordinary Iranians struggle with inflation, crumbling infrastructure, and shortages of water and electricity.
“The Iranian regime refuses to put Iranians first,” a Treasury statement said, highlighting that funds continue to support foreign proxies and missile programs rather than basic needs at home.
The sanctions are aimed at closing loopholes the regime uses to export petroleum and petroleum products through “obscure and fraudulent mechanisms,” further restricting Tehran’s ability to bankroll domestic repression and international malign activities.
The move is part of a broader campaign under National Security Presidential Memorandum 2, which directs maximum pressure on Iran to deprive the regime of revenues that fuel destabilizing actions. Friday’s action also invokes Executive Order 13902, which targets Iran’s petroleum and petrochemical sectors.
Treasury officials said the sanctions continue a robust effort to limit Iran’s oil sales and undercut its financial power, following a similar push outlined in NSPM-2 issued by the President in February 2025.