Oil Tankers in the Crosshairs of U.S. Sanctions Targeting Iran’s Military Trade
The United States has imposed sanctions targeting oil trade linked to the Iranian military, despite an imminent agreement to extend the ceasefire and lift navigation restrictions in the Strait of Hormuz.
The U.S. Treasury Department said it has sanctioned eight vessels involved in transporting Iranian crude oil and its derivatives to global markets. These ships include the tanker Flora, sailing under the flag of the Marshall Islands, the tanker Hounakayo, flying the flag of the Comoros, and the tanker El Jab, registered under the Panamanian flag.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in a statement: “We will not allow the Iranian government to increase its oil revenues in order to rebuild its armed forces and military capabilities.”
President Donald Trump has not yet approved the agreement.
Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz, through which around 20% of global oil and gas supplies pass, has disrupted global markets.
The United States has also imposed sanctions on more than 15 entities, including a company using infrastructure from the Iranian armed forces’ oil sales network to obtain petroleum products from outside Iran.
Imminent agreement
Sources told Reuters that the United States and Iran reached an agreement on Thursday to extend the ceasefire and lift restrictions on navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.
Four informed sources said the deal would extend the ceasefire between the two sides by 60 days and allow the resumption of traffic through the strategic waterway, while negotiators would address sensitive issues such as Iran’s nuclear program.
If approved by decision-makers in Washington and Tehran, the agreement would mark the most significant step toward peace since the conflict began on 28 February. The news of the potential deal followed a series of reciprocal strikes between the two countries.
Commenting on the emerging agreement, U.S. Vice President J. D. Vance told reporters on Thursday that Washington “has not yet reached its goal” regarding Iran, but noted that both sides were close to an agreement.
He added that the United States is in a position to inflict a significant setback on Tehran’s nuclear program.
Vance explained: “We are still discussing some wording issues. We have made substantial progress,” expressing hope that progress would continue and that “President Trump would be in a position to approve the deal, although that remains uncertain.”
