April 16 (UPI) -- The United States blacklisted three people, 17 entities and nine oil tankers accused of aiding Iran in evading sanctions, as the Trump administration targeted Tehran's main revenue source amid ongoing negotiations to end the war.
The sanctions announced Wednesday target an oil shipping network allegedly operated by Iranian shipping magnate Mohammad Hossein Shamkhani, the 41-year-old son of the late Ali Shamkhani, a senior Iranian official.
"Under President Trump's leadership, Treasury will continue to cut off Iran's illicit smuggling and terror proxy networks," U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in a statement.
"Financial institutions should be on notice that Treasury will leverage all tools and authorities, including secondary sanctions, against those that continue to support Tehran's terrorist activities."
The sanctions come amid an impasse in negotiations to end the war as a two-week cease-fire nears its end.
