New U.S. sanctions on Iran’s Shadow Fleet

The U.S. administration announced on Friday new economic sanctions against the “Shadow Fleet” used to transport Iranian oil.

The measure aims to cut financial resources to Iranian authorities accused of violently suppressing protest movements, according to France-Presse.

Tehran denies the allegations, stating that it is facing agitators funded by the U.S. and Israel.

The U.S. Treasury Department expanded the list of ships and entities it says are connected to this fleet, which enables Iran to bypass U.S. sanctions to export its oil.

In a statement, the department noted that the targeted ships, four of which are registered in the Palau archipelago in the Pacific Ocean, and their owners “transported Iranian oil and petroleum products worth hundreds of millions of dollars.”

Secretary Scott Bessant said in the statement that the sanctions “target a key link in the financing mechanism that enables Iran to suppress its people.”

He added that the Treasury “will continue to track the tens of millions of dollars embezzled by the regime, which it is actively attempting to funnel into banks outside Iran.”

The U.S. sanctions freeze all assets held in the United States by the targeted individuals and entities.

They also prohibit any U.S. company or citizen from dealing with them, under penalty of sanctions.