The United States on Wednesday imposed sanctions on a group of mainland Chinese and Hong Kong shipping companies accused of operating ships that transported Iranian oil to China, continuing Washington’s economic campaign against Tehran alongside its naval blockade.
The US State Department said eight companies were designated for operating ships that transported Iranian crude oil and petrochemical products to China and the United Arab Emirates as part of Iran’s “shadow ships” that evade sanctions.
Six of the eight ships identified by the US Treasury Department were specifically accused of carrying Iranian crude oil to China, in some cases transporting millions of barrels during 2026.
These designations block any assets of target companies within US jurisdiction and generally prohibit US individuals and businesses from dealing with them.
Foreign financial institutions and other companies may also face sanctions if they continue to carry out certain transactions involving designated companies.
A spokesman for the Foreign Office, Tommy Pigott, said:
The move also targeted two Iranian companies accused of forcing commercial ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz to buy marine insurance against risks, including capture, that Washington says were created by Tehran itself.
