The U.S. has imposed sanctions on individuals, entities, and vessels linked to Iran's petrochemical industry and the transportation of Iranian oil, as reported by the State Department.
"The State Department and the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of the Treasury (OFAC) are imposing sanctions on organizations and vessels for their involvement in Iran's oil and petrochemical industries," stated State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce in a statement published on the agency's website.
The sanctions target 22 individuals and 13 vessels belonging to shipping companies from Suriname, India, China, and Malaysia, which the State Department describes as a "network of intermediaries" involved in "loading and delivering Iranian oil to buyers in Asia."
"The current sanctions are the first step in President Trump's campaign to exert maximum pressure on the Iranian regime," Bruce emphasized.
Previously, President Trump signed an order reinstating the policy of maximum pressure on Iran. Trump stated that he does not intend to escalate the situation into armed conflict with Iran and hopes to reach an agreement with Tehran regarding the Iranian nuclear issue to avoid confrontation.