The U.S. State Department announced new sanctions against seventeen entities, individuals, and vessels involved in exporting Iranian oil. The move coincides with new Treasury Department sanctions and aims to limit Tehran’s oil revenue used for its nuclear program and regional activities.
On Thursday, November 20, the U.S. State Department announced sanctions on seventeen entities, individuals, and vessels that play a key role in facilitating the sale and transfer of the Iranian regime’s crude oil and petroleum products.
The action aligns with efforts to restrict financial streams that Washington says “the Iranian regime uses to advance its nuclear program, support proxy groups, and destabilize the region.”
Unprecedented Volume of Iranian Oil Lingering in Ships Due To Sanctions
Scott Bessent, the U.S. Treasury Secretary, said:
“Disrupting the Iranian regime’s revenue is critical to helping curb its nuclear ambitions.”
The State Department’s statement says the Iranian regime relies on a vast network of maritime service companies, the so-called “shadow fleet,” and oil brokers across various countries to transfer its oil to buyers using deceptive and clandestine methods.
The United States says this network, by moving millions of barrels of Iranian crude and operating in busy maritime regions, threatens shipping security and freedom of navigation.
These sanctions were imposed under Executive Order 13846, which mandates the blocking of all property and interests of designated persons and entities in the United States or under the control of U.S. persons.
Sanctions on Singapore maritime-services companies
As part of the sanctions, the Singapore-based company STRASSELINK and its managers were designated for providing thirteen pilotage services to tankers of the National Iranian Tanker Company (NITC) from January to August 2025.
U.S. officials say this company enabled the transfer of more than 20 million barrels of Iranian crude by guiding these tankers.
Sanctions on five companies managing Iran’s “shadow fleet”
Five additional companies in Singapore, the UAE, Vietnam, the Marshall Islands, and Seychelles were sanctioned for managing tankers involved in transporting millions of barrels of Iranian oil. These vessels often conceal the origin of cargo through tactics like disabling tracking systems and conducting ship-to-ship (STS) transfers.
The shipping companies ANBO SHIPPING PTE, ARKADIA MARITIME, ERST GROUP LTD, and several others were sanctioned. According to the United States, these companies participated in loading Iranian oil from sanctioned vessels.
Targeting traders of Iranian petroleum products
Additionally, three trading companies in India and the UAE were sanctioned for purchasing, selling, or transferring petroleum products of Iranian origin, including bitumen and other refined products. The State Department says revenue from these products also constitutes a significant portion of the regime’s income.
Update to the U.S. Treasury sanctions list
The U.S. Treasury Department, in its latest update, added a set of individuals, companies, vessels, and aircraft to the Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) list—entities that Washington says play roles in evading oil sanctions, facilitating financial-transfer networks, and providing logistical support for the Iranian regime’s regional activities.
These individuals hold citizenship from Iran, Singapore, Malaysia, India, and Bulgaria, and some are connected to sanctioned companies and airlines.
According to the Treasury Department, several of these individuals—including two Singaporean citizens—directly participated in maritime transfers of Iranian oil. Several other Iranians were designated for involvement in “financial and logistical support” networks tied to the IRGC and sanctioned oil companies.
Asset blocking and transaction bans
Under the sanction’s regulations, all property belonging to designated individuals or entities within the United States or under the control of U.S. persons will be blocked, and any transactions with them are prohibited without a special license.
The U.S. government emphasizes that the goal of these sanctions is “behavioral change,” not punishment, and says it is prepared to consider delisting individuals if circumstances change.
Since returning to the White House, Donald Trump has reinstated the maximum-pressure policy against the Iranian regime and has implemented various rounds of sanctions.
