The United States announced that it will sanction six companies that evaded restrictions on Iran's crude oil and petrochemical exports. Twenty vessels that traded with these companies were also included in the sanctions list.
On the 2nd (local time), Secretary of State Tony Blinken stated in a press release, "These sanctions reflect our continued efforts to enforce our sanctions on Iran."
The sanctioned companies include two headquartered in China and Iran, and one each headquartered in Vietnam and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
According to the U.S. Department of State, these companies were confirmed to have been involved in selling or transporting Iran's crude oil and petroleum products while evading U.S. sanctions.
The sanctions came amid stalled negotiations to restore the Western-Iran nuclear deal (JCPOA - Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action) pursued by the Joe Biden administration.
The JCPOA centers on lifting economic sanctions imposed on Iran by the United States, the European Union (EU), and the United Nations if Iran refrains from developing nuclear weapons. The previous Donald Trump administration unilaterally withdrew from the JCPOA in 2018 and reinstated sanctions on Iran in sectors such as oil, transportation, and finance. The Biden administration has since sought to restore the agreement, but with negotiations stalled, the U.S. government is tightening sanctions once again.
If designated under U.S. sanctions, the company's assets within the United States will be frozen, and transactions with U.S. companies will be prohibited.
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