US sanctions illicit networks engaged in Iranian petroleum trade

November 20, 2025

The United States (US) Departments of State and the Treasury on Thursday, November 20, 2025, said they are sanctioning shipping networks responsible for funding the Iranian regime’s malign activities through illicit oil sales, as well as an airline and its affiliates that arm and supply Iran-backed terrorist groups.  The funds generated by this oil trade, a statement said, “are used to support Iran’s regional terrorist proxies and procure weapons systems that pose a direct threat to U.S. forces and our allies.

“The State Department is designating 17 entities, individuals, and vessels in several countries, including, but not limited to India, Panama, and the Seychelles, involved in Iran’s petroleum and petroleum products sales.  Concurrently, the Department of the Treasury is designating 41 entities, individuals, vessels, and aircraft, intensifying its efforts against Iran’s petroleum and petrochemical exports and disrupting financial streams and commercial operatives that support Iran’s malign activities.

“The United States will continue to act in support of National Security Presidential Memorandum 2 (NSPM-2), which directs the imposition of maximum pressure on the Iranian regime to deny it access to resources needed to sustain its destabilizing activities.

“The United States remains committed to disrupting the illicit funding streams that finance all aspects of Iran’s malign activities.  As long as Iran devotes revenue to funding attacks against the United States and our allies, supporting terrorism around the world, and pursuing other destabilizing actions, we will use all the tools at our disposal to hold the regime accountable,” the statement insisted.

The action, the statement concluded, “is being taken pursuant to the counterterrorism authority Executive Order (E.O.) 13224, as amended, E.O. 13846, and E.O. 13902, which target Iran’s petroleum and petrochemical sector. It continues the robust U.S. sanctions campaign targeting Iranian oil sales.”