Us Sanctions

US sanctions suffocating Iran economy, oil infra starting to creak: Bessent

Bessent suggested that the Iranian petroleum sector is facing an imminent crisis and may be forced to begin shutting in wells in the next week, as the nation's crude storage is 'rapidly filling up'

US sanctions China-based crude oil terminal operator for trading Iran oil

The US on Friday sanctioned a China-based crude oil terminal operator for importing petroleum products from Iranian entities and warned others of facing the same consequences if they paid a toll to Tehran to cross the Strait of Hormuz. "The US is taking decisive action to disrupt Iran's illicit oil trade, the Iranian regime's primary revenue streams that fund terrorism and regional destabilization," US Department of State spokesman Tommy Pigott said in a statement. Pigott said the department sanctioned multiple entities, an individual, and a vessel involved in the trade of Iranian petroleum and petroleum products. The action targets a China-based petroleum terminal operator - Qingdao Haiye Oil Terminal Co., Ltd. - that has imported tens of millions of barrels of sanctioned Iranian crude oil since February last year. The US also sanctioned Xingchun Li, a Chinese national and the president of QINGDAO HAIYE, and two vessel management companies UK-based Thriving Times International an

US sanctions Iran's 35 'shadow banking' architecture under Op Economic Fury

The move aims to choke off a financial lifeline that has moved tens of billions of dollars to fund the Iranian regime's armed forces, missile programs, and regional terrorist proxies

US sanctions China-based oil refinery, 40 shippers over Iranian oil

The Trump administration is placing economic sanctions on a major China-based oil refinery and roughly 40 shipping companies and tankers involved in transporting Iranian oil. The move, announced Friday and first reported by The Associated Press, makes good on the Trump administration's threat to impose secondary sanctions on companies and countries that do business with Iran. It's also part of the Republican administration's overall ramped-up campaign to cut off Iran's key source of revenue - its oil exports. Concurrently, the US this month imposed a physical blockade on the Strait of Hormuz, the Persian Gulf waterway that is crucial to global energy supplies. These sanctions come just a few weeks before President Donald Trump and China's Xi Jinping are due to meet in China. Included in Friday's sanctions is Hengli Petrochemical's facility in the port city of Dalian, which has a processing capacity of roughly 400,000 barrels of crude oil per day, making it one of the biggest ...

India likely to hand over Chabahar port reins to Iranian entity

India plans to divest its stake in Chabahar Port ahead of US sanctions expiry, balancing strategic interests with geopolitical and legal risks

US sanctions Iran-backed Iraqi militia leaders; warns over Hormuz security

The US imposed sanctions on seven senior commanders of Iraqi militias that are supported by Iran, including groups like Kataib Hezbollah and Asaib Ahl al-Haq, for allegedly planning and carrying out attacks on US personnel and coalition forces in the region. Officials have said the move is part of a broader effort to counter Iran's influence in Iraq and deter further violence against US interests. The action also signifies a US strategy of using economic pressure, not just military force, to target Iran's network of allies, while warning global banks and firms to stop doing business with anyone tied to these groups. "We will not allow Iraq's terrorist militias, backed by Iran, to threaten American lives or interests," Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent said Friday. "Those who enable these militias' violence will be held accountable." US Central Command says ships moving through Strait of Hormuz ------------------------------------------------------------------------ "We'll s

US rules out renewing exemptions from sanctions on Russian, Iranian oil

The United States on Wednesday ruled out granting any further exemption from sanctions for the purchase of Russian or Iranian oil. US Treasury Scott Bessent announced at a press conference at the White House here. "We will not be renewing the general license on Russian oil, and we will not be renewing the general license on Iranian oil. That was oil that was on the water prior to March 11, so all that has been used," Bessent told reporters here. On March 5, the US issued a 30-day sanctions waiver to India, permitting it to buy Russian oil despite sanctions imposed over the Ukraine war. A few days later, the US extended the sanctions waiver to a few other nations. The waiver from sanctions expired on April 11.

US-sanctioned tanker 'Rich Starry' tests Trump blockade with Hormuz exit

Shipowners, energy traders and investors across financial markets have been keenly following its route through Hormuz as they try to understand the latest US effort to pressure Tehran

White House official rejects reports of US unfreezing Iranian assets

There was no immediate statement from the United States about any unfreezing of assets. Qatar's Foreign Ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment

US allows sale of stranded Iranian oil until April 19 to bring down prices

US Treasury Secretary said the waiver could release about 140 mn barrels into markets amid Hormuz disruptions, as rising fuel costs intensify inflation worries and political pressure on Trump admin

Trump weighs easing Russia sanctions, other measures to cool oil prices

Trump told reporters in Florida on Monday that his administration was lifting sanctions on some countries as part of efforts to stabilise the oil market, but declined to provide details

US waiver unlocks Lukoil, Rosneft crude oil for India amid West Asia crisis

India is exploring alternative LNG and LPG supplies to bypass the Strait of Hormuz as officials clarify that the US sanctions waiver covers Rosneft and Lukoil crude stranded at sea

Cuba-bound tanker carrying Russian fuels set to test Trump blockade

Pressure on Havana has been mounting since late last year, when US forces seized a ship carrying Venezuelan crude to Cuba

US imposes entry ban on Palau Senate chief, Marshall Islands ex-mayor

According to State Department, Palau's Senate chief was designated 'for his involvement in significant corruption on behalf of China-based actors'

How sanctioned oil travels the world through shadow fleets and fake flags

Recent Indian and US mid-sea operations have exposed a hidden system that allows sanctioned oil to bypass global restrictions through shadow tankers, false flags and offshore transfers

Starting to talk to Cuba, says Trump as he moves to cut its oil supplies

President Donald Trump said the US was beginning to talk with Cuban leaders as his administration is putting greater pressure on the communist-run island and cutting off key oil supplies. The Republican president made the comment to reporters on Saturday night as he was flying to Florida. It comes in the wake of his moves in recent weeks to cut off supplies of oil from Venezuela and Mexico, which he suggested Saturday would force Cuba to the negotiating table. His goals with Cuba remain unclear, but Trump has turned more of his attention toward the island after his administration in early January captured Venezuela's then-President Nicolas Maduro and has been more aggressive in confronting nations that are adversaries of the US. Trump has predicted that the Cuban government is ready to fall. He did not offer any details on Saturday about what level of outreach his administration has had with Cuba recently or when, but simply said, "We're starting to talk to Cuba." His recent moves

Trump claims India will buy Venezuelan oil: 'We've already made that deal'

Donald Trump claimed India will buy Venezuelan oil instead of Iranian crude as Washington moves to cut Russia-linked oil trade and ease some sanctions on Venezuela

Russia oil flows into India show resilience, likely to continue into 2026

India will continue to look out for the best prices and best margins for its refiners, strategically changing its buying slate while also dropping Russian imports slightly, a Kpler analyst said

MRPL explores buying Venezuelan oil as it halts Russian crude imports

The US in October sanctioned Russia's two largest oil producers - Rosneft and Lukoil - giving companies until November 21 to wind down dealings with them

Iran protests appear to fade as crackdown deepens, West weighs sanctions

The nationwide protests challenging Iran's theocracy appeared increasingly smothered Thursday, a week after authorities shut the country off from the world and escalated a bloody crackdown that activists say has killed at least 2,637 people. The prospect of US retaliation for the deaths of protesters still hung over the region, though President Donald Trump signalled a possible de-escalation, saying the killing appeared to be ending. Meanwhile, the US announced new sanctions on Iranian officials accused of suppressing the protests, which began late last month over the country's faltering economy and the collapse of its currency. The Group of Seven industrialised democracies and the European Union said they too were looking at new sanctions to ratchet up the pressure on Iran's theocratic government. The UN Security Council scheduled an emergency meeting on Iran for Thursday afternoon at the request of the United States. In Iran's capital, Tehran, witnesses said recent mornings show