US Sanctions China-Based Refinery and 40 Shipping Firms in Escalation Against Iranian Oil Trade

File photo The United States has imposed fresh sanctions on a major China-based oil refinery and around 40 shipping companies and tankers linked to Iranian oil transport, escalating its campaign to choke Tehran’s key revenue stream. The move, announced on Friday, targets what Washington describes as an extensive “shadow network” used to move Iranian crude to global markets. It comes amid already heightened tensions over the ongoing Iran conflict and fragile ceasefire arrangements in the region. China refinery and shipping network targeted The US treasury department identified a China-based independent refinery, along with dozens of vessels and shipping operators, as part of the latest sanctions package. The refinery, described as a major buyer of Iranian crude, is among several “teapot” refiners that process discounted oil and operate with limited exposure to the US financial system. Treasury secretary Scott Bessent said the measures are part of a wider effort to restrict Iran’s oil income. “Treasury will continue to constrict the network of vessels, intermediaries, and buyers Iran relies on to move its oil to global markets,” he said, as quoted by Reuters. ‘Financial stranglehold’ strategy The sanctions are part of Washington’s broader “maximum pressure” campaign aimed at cutting off Iran’s energy exports, which US officials say fund regional militancy and destabilising activities, according to a US government statement. The administration described the action as a “decisive” step to disrupt Iran’s oil trade and limit revenue flows supporting its regional operations. ‘The United States will intensify economic pressure on Iran and the international network that sustains its illicit energy trade as a part of Economic Fury’, the statement said. China responds, trade tensions surface China criticised the move, calling on Washington to stop using sanctions as a political tool. Its embassy in Washington said normal trade should not be disrupted and accused the US of “abusing” unilateral sanctions. Beijing also argued that such measures risk politicising global energy trade and harming legitimate business activity. Broader pressure on Iran’s oil exports The sanctions also target nearly 40 shipping firms and vessels involved in transporting Iranian crude, further tightening restrictions on what US officials describe as Iran’s “illicit oil network”. China remains the largest buyer of Iranian oil, accounting for more than 80% of exports, according to data cited by Reuters from energy analytics firms. Earlier sanctions have already pushed refiners to rely on alternative trade routes and opaque transactions, with some reportedly paying premiums for Iranian crude due to shifting enforcement risks. The move comes as Washington and Tehran prepare for another round of discussions amid ongoing tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, where maritime disruptions have already impacted global energy flows.