On Thursday, the U.S. sanctioned two Chinese enterprises for transporting or selling Iranian petroleum or petrochemical goods in contravention of U.S. regulations.
Washington is trying to stop Iranian oil smuggling as efforts to revitalize Tehran’s 2015 nuclear accord have faltered owing to deteriorating relations with the West.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the sanctions target 11 businesses and 20 associated maritime vessels that helped Iran’s petroleum and petrochemical trade.
“These designations emphasize our sustained efforts to implement our Iran sanctions,” Blinken added.
Iran’s U.N. envoy in New York accused the Biden administration of “essentially replicating the failed maximum pressure approach of the former U.S. government” under President Donald Trump.
“Iran has become used to these sanctions, but if the U.S. wishes to return to JCPOA (the Iran nuclear agreement) one day, it will be tough for the U.S. administration to lift all of them,” Iran’s U.N. envoy told Reuters.
The Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control lists two Chinese entities and others in Vietnam and the UAE. The penalties block the businesses’ U.S. assets and prevent Americans from engaging with them.
A 2018 U.S. executive order reinstated sanctions on Iran’s energy, banking, and transportation industries.
After quitting the 2015 nuclear deal, Trump issued the 2018 decree. However, Joseph Biden has failed to renew the deal for two years.
A Treasury Department memo on Thursday authorized restricted dealings with the 20 sanctioned boats during a “wind-down” period through June 29.
