May 12 (UPI) -- The United States has sanctioned a dozen individuals and entities accused of enabling the elite Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' sale of Iranian oil to China, as the Trump administration intensifies its maximum pressure campaign on Tehran amid a stalemate in war-ending negotiations.
The designations announced Monday target the IRGC's Shahid Purja'fari Oil Headquarters, which the Treasury accuses of coordinating payments through Golden Globe Demir Celik Petrol Sanayi ve Ticaret Anonim Sirketi, which the Trump administration blacklisted in July.
Treasury officials said Shahid Purja'fari Oil Headquarters' chief, Ahmad Mohammadi Zadeh, has worked to resolve debts owed to the IRGC by Haokun Energy Group, which the Biden administration sanctioned in May 2022.
Other entities hit with designations on Monday include Hong Kong-based Hong Kong Blue Ocean Limited and Hong Kong Sanmu Limited, both of which are accused of performing a similar role to Golden Globe by arranging the sale and shipment of Iranian oil to overseas buyers.
"As Iran's military desperately tries to regroup, Economic Fury will continue to deprive the regime of funding for its weapons programs, terrorist proxies and nuclear ambitions," Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in a statement.
