The United States government on Monday imposed sanctions on three individuals and nine companies, including four based in Hong Kong, four in the United Arab Emirates, and one in Oman, over their alleged involvement in facilitating Iranian oil exports to China.
This action comes shortly after Washington announced fresh sanctions on Friday targeting individuals and firms accused of helping Iran acquire components used in drones and ballistic missiles.
The latest measures were announced just days ahead of a planned meeting between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, where Iran-related tensions and the security of the Strait of Hormuz are expected to be discussed.
According to the US Treasury Department, the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has blacklisted the individuals and entities for allegedly assisting Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in selling and transporting oil through a network of front companies.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated that the administration will continue its efforts to block financial channels that support Iran’s military operations, nuclear program, and regional proxy groups.
He added that the US will keep targeting financial networks that, according to Washington, are used by Tehran to fund activities contributing to global instability.
The US State Department also announced a reward of up to $15 million for information that could disrupt the financial systems of the IRGC, which it has designated as a terrorist organization.
Officials said the IRGC relies on shell companies to process payments related to oil exports. They added that this latest move builds on earlier sanctions imposed in July 2025 against Turkey-based firm Golden Globe, which was accused of handling hundreds of millions of dollars in IRGC-linked oil transactions.
The Treasury further stated that the three sanctioned individuals are linked to the IRGC’s Shahid Purja’fari oil headquarters and were involved in coordinating payments through intermediary companies, including Golden Globe.
