Washington DC: The United States sanctioned a China-based oil refinery on Thursday (local time) for purchasing millions of barrels of Iranian oil. Additional sanctions were imposed on entities and vessels in Iran’s shadow fleet. America took this decision as part of its broader strategy to curb Iran’s nuclear ambitions, ballistic missile program, and financial support for terrorists by cutting its oil exports to zero, US State Department Spokesperson Tammy Bruce said on Friday.
The White House is increasing its pressure on Iran regarding approximately USD 500 million worth of Iranian oil transported by ships associated with the Houthis.
“For the first time, the United States is sanctioning a so-called teapot refinery in China for purchasing millions of barrels of oil worth approximately half a billion dollars. We are also sanctioning several additional entities and vessels in Iran’s shadow fleet for shipping millions of barrels of Iranian oil to China,” she announced.
She emphasised that Iran’s actions represent a security risk to the United States, and the sanctions are intended to limit Iran’s nuclear program and halt its oil exports. “Iran’s actions worldwide jeopardize US national security interests. President Trump has reinstated a maximum pressure strategy aimed at eliminating Iran’s nuclear threat, reducing its ballistic missile development, and preventing its support of terrorist organizations. This strategy seeks to reduce Iran’s oil exports, which finance its destabilizing activities, to zero, including those to China,” she stated.
The United States has imposed restrictions on activities with Iran under various legal authorities since 1979, following the seizure of the US Embassy in Tehran, according to the US Department of State.
The Office of Economic Sanctions Policy and Implementation within the Department of State is tasked with the enforcement and execution of various US sanctions programs that restrict access to the United States for businesses involved in specific commercial dealings with Iran. Furthermore, the Department of State has declared measures against a storage terminal for crude oil and petroleum products located in the port of Huizhou, China.
“The Department of State is taking action against a crude oil and petroleum products storage terminal in the port of Huizhou in China. The terminal received and stored Iranian-origin crude oil onboard a blocked tanker. Crude oil and petroleum products terminals based in China serve as the gateway for Iranian petroleum products to enter the Chinese market. As China is the largest importer of Iranian crude oil and petroleum products, terminals in China play a critical role in supporting Iran’s efforts to maintain revenues from its energy exports and fuel its destabilizing activities,” the statement said.
(With agency inputs)
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