Washington: The United States has unveiled a series of new sanctions aimed at Iran’s petroleum and petrochemical sectors in direct response to its attack on Israel on October 1. This latest move includes sanctions against 16 entities involved in the Iranian petroleum trade and the blocking of 23 vessels.
In a post on X, US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller stated, “We are announcing broad new sanctions on Iran’s petroleum and petrochemical sectors to further deny the Iranian regime the resources it may use to fund its destabilizing activities. We are also sanctioning 16 entities engaged in Iranian petroleum trade and blocking 23 vessels.”
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken emphasized that these measures are intended to disrupt the flow of revenue that the Iranian regime utilizes to finance its nuclear program and support terrorist proxies.
In a statement, Blinken remarked, “In the aftermath of Iran’s unprecedented October 1 attack against Israel, the United States made clear that we would impose consequences on Iran for its actions. To that end, we are taking steps today to disrupt the flow of revenue the Iranian regime uses to fund its nuclear program and missile development, support terrorist proxies and partners, and perpetuate conflict throughout the Middle East.”
Blinken noted that the US Department of State has imposed sanctions on six entities engaged in the Iranian petroleum trade and identified six vessels as blocked property. Simultaneously, the Department of the Treasury, in consultation with the Department of State, is issuing a determination that will lead to the imposition of sanctions against any individual determined to operate within the petroleum or petrochemical sectors of the Iranian economy.
Additionally, the US Treasury has imposed sanctions against 10 entities and identified 17 vessels as blocked property due to their involvement in the shipment of Iranian petroleum and petrochemical products in support of US-designated entities, including the National Iranian Oil Company and Triliance Petrochemical Co. Limited.
In a statement, US Secretary of the Treasury Janet L. Yellen stated, “In response to Iran’s attack on Israel, the United States is taking decisive action to further disrupt the Iranian regime’s ability to fund and carry out its destabilizing activity.”
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She further added, “Today’s sanctions target Iranian efforts to channel revenues from its energy industry to finance deadly and disruptive activity—including the development of its nuclear program, the proliferation of ballistic missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles, and support to regional terrorist proxies—with dangerous consequences for the region and the world. We will not hesitate to take further action to hold Iran accountable.”
Antony Blinken reiterated the US commitment to curtailing Iran’s revenue sources for its malign activities. He stated that the US will continue to employ all available tools to hold Iran accountable as long as Tehran uses its energy revenues to fund attacks on US allies, support terrorism globally, and pursue other destabilizing actions. He noted that these efforts will be bolstered by ongoing close coordination with partners and allies to address and counter Iran’s activities.
On October 1, Iran launched nearly 200 ballistic missiles targeting Israel, and the US military coordinated closely with the Israeli Defense Forces to help defend against this attack.
US naval destroyers collaborated with Israeli air defense units to intercept and shoot down incoming missiles. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described Iran’s missile attack on Israel as a “big mistake,” asserting that Tehran would face repercussions for its actions.
