The U.S. has imposed new sanctions targeting Iranian oil shipments bound for China.
Published On 12 May, 2026
According to the US Treasury Department, the sanctions target four companies based in Hong Kong, four in the United Arab Emirates and one in Oman.
The move is part of Washington’s continuing pressure campaign against Tehran amid the ongoing Iran-US conflict and tensions in the Strait of Hormuz.
Pressure on Tehran
The latest sanctions come days after the United States imposed restrictions on individuals and firms allegedly involved in supplying Iran with weapons components used in drones and ballistic missiles.
The Treasury Department said the newly sanctioned individuals and entities helped Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps sell and transport oil to China through front companies operating in what it called “permissive economic jurisdictions”.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Washington would continue increasing pressure on Iran.
“Treasury will continue to cut the Iranian regime off from the financial networks it uses to carry out terrorist acts and to destabilize the global economy,” Bessent said.
Trump-Xi Meeting Expected to Discuss Iran
The sanctions announcement comes ahead of an expected meeting between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Trump is expected to urge China to help resolve the standoff with Iran and support efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, which remains heavily disrupted due to the conflict.
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most important shipping routes for oil and gas exports, and continued tensions have fueled concerns about global energy supplies and inflation.
Oil Trade Remains Under Scrutiny
Washington has repeatedly accused Tehran of using oil revenues to fund its military activities, nuclear program and allied armed groups in the region.
The latest sanctions signal that the US intends to maintain economic pressure on Iran even as diplomatic efforts continue over a possible ceasefire and broader regional negotiations.
