Washington: The US administration on Monday further intensified economic pressure on Iran by imposing additional sanctions.
According to Ghana News Agency, the US Treasury announced sanctions on 12 individuals and companies, including those based in Hong Kong and the United Arab Emirates. These entities have been accused of facilitating the sale and shipment of Iranian oil to China through Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). The IRGC allegedly used shell companies to conceal its involvement in oil sales and direct the revenue towards the Iranian regime.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent emphasized that, as Iran's military attempts to regroup, the Trump administration is determined to cut off funding for Iran's weapons programs, terrorist activities, and nuclear ambitions. Bessent stated that the Treasury will persist in disconnecting the Iranian regime from the financial networks it exploits to conduct terrorist acts and destabilize the global economy.
The announcement of these sanctions comes ahead of a planned meeting between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing this week. This move follows other sanctions unveiled on Friday, which targeted individuals and companies, including those from China, accused of assisting Iran's drone and missile programs.
China, a close economic partner of Iran and the largest buyer of Iranian oil, has repeatedly criticized the US's stance on Iran. The Iran issue is expected to be a significant topic during the Trump-Xi meeting in Beijing, with Trump scheduled to visit the Chinese capital from Wednesday to Friday.