The Trump administration intensified its “maximum pressure” campaign on Iran on Thursday, with the State Department sanctioning three entities and tagging three vessels as blocked property to choke off Tehran’s illicit oil revenue.
The move aims to disrupt a “ghost fleet” running ship-to-ship transfers in Southeast Asia, masking Iran’s oil trade to fund its nuclear ambitions, missile program, and terrorist proxies.
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The Treasury Department piled on, designating Iran’s Petroleum Minister Mohsen Paknejad and several firms ferrying oil to China, also blocking their vessels.
“The Iranian regime and its military are stealing the nation’s oil wealth with Paknejad’s help,” a State Department release charged, accusing him of enabling corruption that fuels destabilizing activities.
Authorized under Trump’s Executive Orders 13846 and 13902, the sanctions align with a February 4 National Security Presidential Memorandum pushing Iran’s oil exports—especially to China—to zero.
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This third wave of penalties since then reflects a vow to “curb malign activities” and “hold the regime accountable,” wielding every tool to slash Tehran’s financial lifelines.
With entities servicing Iran’s shadowy fleet and its oil boss now in the crosshairs, the U.S. signals no letup in its bid to dismantle Iran’s economic backbone.
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