US sanctions 17 vessels in Iran shadow fleet

The United States imposed sanctions Thursday targeting 17 vessels it said were part of Iran's “shadow fleet” used to move oil products to foreign markets.

The US Treasury Department said the vessels had moved millions of barrels of Iranian crude oil, petroleum and petrochemical products to markets across South and East Asia.

The Treasury also designated companies that own the vessels, accusing them of operating in the petroleum or petrochemical sectors of Iran's economy.

“Today's action effectively neutralizes the vast majority of Iran's remaining shadow fleet network,” the Treasury Department said.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the aim was to deprive Tehran of funds needed to “wage war in the region”.

The sanctions were announced shortly after President Donald Trump ruled out further military attacks on Iran before the November 3 US midterm elections, saying Washington was holding “productive discussions” with Tehran.