The announcement was made on Thursday marking a new round of sanctions targeting Iran’s oil sector.

According to a statement from the US Treasury, Washington sanctioned Mohsen Paknejad, Iran’s oil minister, along with several Hong Kong-flagged oil tankers, as part of its latest measures against Iran. 
This follows previous sanctions imposed on February 25, when the US Treasury and State Departments jointly added several individuals and companies linked to Iran’s oil industry to the sanctions list.

At the time, State Department spokesperson Tommy Bruce stated that the U.S. Treasury had sanctioned 16 entities and vessels, while the State and Treasury Departments jointly sanctioned an additional 22 individuals and 13 vessels.
Earlier, several high-ranking officials in Iran’s oil industry had already been targeted by U.S. sanctions, including Hamid Bovard, CEO of the National Iranian Oil Company; Abbas Asadrouz, CEO of Iranian Oil Terminals Company; Gholamhossein Gerami, head of the South Pars Gas Condensate Terminal; Seyed Ali Miri, head of the Kharg Oil Terminal; and Ali Moallemi, head of the North Oil Terminal Company.

Additionally, Iranian Oil Terminals Company and Petrorefining Kangan were included in the sanctions list announced on February 25, 2024, as part of the Trump administration’s efforts to pressure Iran’s oil industry. 

The latest sanctions underscore the continued US campaign to exert economic pressure on Iran, particularly targeting its critical oil sector.