The US sanctions 14 tankers and 15 companies linked to Iran's oil trade as indirect talks with Tehran commence in Oman, reports Maritime Executive.
The US State Department has sanctioned 14 tankers and 15 companies linked to Iran's oil trade as indirect talks with Tehran began in Oman, reported Fort Lauderdale's Maritime Executive.
The department stated that the vessels were transporting millions of barrels of Iranian crude and petrochemical products, adding four more entities and two individuals to the sanctions list. Companies based in the UAE, China, India, Kazakhstan, and Turkey were named, along with front firms located in the Seychelles and Marshall Islands.
The sanctioned fleet includes crude oil tankers registered in Barbados and Cameroon, one falsely flagged in Aruba, product tankers in Panama and Barbados, and LPG carriers in Palau, Panama, and San Marino. The NGO United Against Nuclear Iran reported that seven of the vessels had been identified as evading sanctions, bringing the total number of tankers sanctioned since 2020 to more than 190.
The announcement coincided with indirect meetings in Oman, where Iran's foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, stated that talks had made 'a good start' and would continue. He mentioned that discussions focused on the nuclear issue, while US officials indicated that ballistic missiles and Iran's regional activities were also on the agenda.
The New York Times reported that Iran is repairing ballistic missile facilities damaged in US and Israeli strikes, although progress at nuclear sites has been limited. President Donald Trump told NBC News that Iran's leadership should be 'very worried,' emphasizing US readiness to act against its nuclear ambitions.
