The administration of the US President Donald Trump on Thursday imposed sanctions on Iranian oil trading networks, including on a China-based crude oil storage terminal linked via a pipeline to an independent refinery.
These sanctions come a few days before direct talks between the US and Iran.
The sanctions came after Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the US will hold direct talks with Iran on Saturday in Oman.
Recall that Trump on Monday said that Iran would be in great danger if the talks were unsuccessful.
The US sanctioned Guangsha Zhoushan Energy Group Co, LTD that it said operates a crude oil and petroleum products terminal on Huangzeshan Island in Zhoushan, China.
According to the US State Department, the terminal is knowingly engaged with oil from Iran, and is directly connected through the Huangzeshan–Yushan Under Sea Oil Pipeline to an independent refinery known as a “teapot” plant.
“The United States remains focused on disrupting all elements of Iran’s oil exports, particularly those who seek to profit from this trade,” U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said.
It added that the terminal has reportedly acquired Iranian crude oil at least nine times between 2021 and 2025, including from US sanctioned vessels, and has imported at least 13 million barrels of Iranian crude oil.
The Chinese embassy in Washington has not made any comment on the development at the time of filing this report.
