The US government has levied a fresh round of sanctions against Iran’s military oil trade, targeting vessels involved in transporting Iranian crude. The move is the latest in an accelerating campaign that has swept up dozens of ships, companies, and individuals since early 2026.
A shadow fleet under siege
Back in February 2026, OFAC sanctioned over 30 individuals and entities, along with 12 so-called shadow fleet vessels suspected of moving Iranian petroleum worth hundreds of millions of dollars.
By April, Washington expanded its net to roughly 40 shipping firms and vessels tied to Iran’s oil export operations.
Then on May 5, three foreign currency exchange houses were sanctioned for helping settle Iranian oil transactions in yuan from China. Six days later, on May 11, three more individuals and nine companies were designated for aiding oil shipments linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) destined for Chinese buyers.
