United States Imposes Sanctions on Nine Iran-Linked Vessels Amid Escalating Pressure on Tehran

The United States has imposed sanctions on nine vessels and several associated firms linked to Iran’s so-called “shadow fleet”, in a move aimed at intensifying economic pressure on Tehran.

The action follows growing international concern over Iran’s internal crackdown on peaceful protests, the suppression of dissent, and broader geopolitical tensions.

According to the US Treasury Department, the nine ships and their owners or management companies are accused of transporting hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of Iranian crude oil and petroleum products to international markets, in violation of existing sanctions.

These vessels have been used to evade international restrictions on Iran’s oil exports by operating through opaque ownership structures, reflagging practices and complex routing that make tracking difficult.

The sanctions prohibit the targeted companies, shipowners and their management firms from conducting transactions with American entities, accessing the U.S. financial system, or benefiting from U.S. jurisdiction.

Authorities described the vessels as part of a network that has enabled Iran to generate revenue used to support internal repression, its military and proxy groups, and programs considered destabilizing by Washington.

U.S. officials say the move is part of a broader effort to disrupt Iran’s ability to fund these activities through oil revenues. It also comes as the United States reinforces its political stance against Tehran’s handling of domestic unrest, including widespread internet shutdowns and reported fatalities during protest crackdowns.

The key objective of the sanctions is to cut off critical financial channels that sustain Iran’s shadow fleet operations and related maritime oil trade.

The targeted vessels are registered under flags of convenience, making them harder to monitor under traditional regulatory mechanisms. Sanctioned firms based in several countries, including the Middle East and South Asia, are connected to the operation of these tankers.

The coordinated move by the U.S. reflects ongoing strategic pressure designed to curb Iran’s sanctioned oil exports while signalling continued diplomatic opposition to Tehran’s internal and external policies.