US announces new sanctions on Iranian oil

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Wednesday (15) that the country will not renew exemptions on the purchase of some shipments of crude oil from Russia and Iran, approved in March to try to reduce oil prices. He argued that the temporary relief only affected “oil that was already at sea before March 11” and that all of those batches “have already been used.”

Now, he has announced new measures against vessels, companies and individuals involved in exporting Iranian oil and natural gas. According to the ministry, all sanctioned entities are linked to the family of Mohammed Hossein Shamkhani, whose father was one of the main political advisors to the late supreme leader of Iran, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Bessent also renewed threats against countries that buy oil from Iran, saying they could be hit with secondary sanctions if they are found violating the American order.

Exemptions on Iranian crude oil in sea transit expire on April 19. Questioned by journalists, Bessent said he did not know how much money went into Russian coffers thanks to this temporary exemption from sanctions.