US targets tankers and entities in fresh Iran sanctions
State Department designates nine entities and vessels for shipping Iranian petroleum products and petrochemicals
The US is continuing to blacklist operators in Iran’s oil trade amid talks over a nuclear deal with Tehran, which are set to continue for the fourth consecutive weekend on Saturday
THE US is continuing to impose sanctions on actors in Iran’s oil trade as talks over a new nuclear deal are set to continue for the fourth consecutive weekend on Saturday.
The US State Department designated nine entities and ships on Wednesday, with secretary of state Marco Rubio reiterating US President Donald Trump’s commitment to “driving Iran’s illicit oil and petrochemical exports — including exports to China — to zero”.
The designations included four United Arab Emirates-based entities that the state department said exported Iranian petrochemicals; one Türkiye-based entity that imported Iranian petrochemicals; and one Iran-based cargo surveyor the department said inspected tankers “complicit of working with US-designated Triliance Petrochemical”.
In addition, the state department designated UAE-based Vroom Marine Venture FZE for managing tankers that have “transported multiple shipments of Iranian petroleum products” over the years.
Two aframaxes, 2002-built Eloise (IMO: 9233234) and 2003-built Olia (IMO: 9268112), were identified as blocked property of Vroom. Olia was previously designated under Russian sanctions.
Eloise appeared to be discharging at Jurong Island, Singapore, when the designation was announced.
“So long as Iran attempts to generate oil and petrochemical revenues to fund its destabilising activities, and support its terrorist activities and proxies, the United States will take steps to hold both Iran and all its partners engaged in sanctions evasion accountable,” said Rubio.
