The United States continues to "maximum pressure" on Iran, imposing new sanctions to restrict oil trade.

The United States has once again taken measures to restrict Iran's oil trade, intensifying pressure on the country, despite previous hints from Trump that sanctions may be eased after bombing Iranian nuclear facilities. The U.S. Treasury Department and State Department announced on Thursday sanctions on companies that help Iran export crude oil and a "shadow fleet." The U.S. Treasury Department's sanctions target a network of companies accused of purchasing and transporting billions of dollars' worth of Iranian oil. The Treasury Department stated that some of the proceeds from oil sales flow to the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, which the U.S. has designated as a terrorist organization. Treasury Secretary Scott Bezent said in a statement that the Treasury Department will continue targeting revenue sources in Tehran, increasing economic pressure to prevent the regime from obtaining funds for its destabilizing activities. At the same time, the U.S. State Department imposed penalties on six companies, including four ships that assist Iran in exporting oil. Both departments specifically noted that these ships help Iran evade sanctions by loading cargo from Iranian vessels and concealing their origins.