The United States has announced plans to further tighten economic pressure on Iran, warning of continued restrictions on maritime oil flows and potential sanctions against vessels and financial facilitators linked to Tehran’s energy trade.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in a statement posted on X that the US Navy would maintain a blockade on Iranian ports as part of an ongoing strategy to restrict the country’s oil exports.
He claimed that Iran’s Kharg Island storage facilities could reach capacity within days, potentially forcing oil production shutdowns and significantly reducing the country’s revenue from energy exports.
Bessent said the measures are part of a broader “maximum pressure” campaign aimed at limiting Iran’s ability to generate and transfer funds. He added that individuals, vessels, or entities involved in facilitating Iranian oil trade or financial transactions could face US sanctions.
He also said Washington would continue efforts to freeze what he described as funds linked to Iran’s leadership.
The announcement signals an escalation in US economic actions targeting Iran’s energy sector amid ongoing geopolitical tensions in the region.