The United States has imposed fresh sanctions on Iran following Trump’s return to the White House, reigniting a “maximum pressure” campaign against Tehran.
The US Treasury announced that the sanctions target Iran’s “oil network,” accusing Tehran of diverting oil revenues toward its nuclear programme and the development of ballistic missiles and UAVs.
“The profits from oil exports are reviving Iran’s proxies in the Middle East,” Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated. “We will not allow Iran to threaten peace by developing missile programmes in the region.”
The sanctions apply to “entities and individuals in multiple jurisdictions,” including China, India, and the UAE.
The latest measures come just two days after Trump signed an executive order reviving his pressure campaign on Iran.
In 2015, a multilateral nuclear agreement collapsed when the US allegedly withdrew from its denuclearisation promises.
The Biden administration retained existing sanctions and imposed additional penalties but failed to secure a renewed deal.
Trump’s executive order this week directs officials to tighten sanctions and “drive Iran’s oil exports to zero.”
“I want Iran to be a great and successful country but one that cannot have a nuclear weapon,” Trump said on Tuesday.
Iran denies seeking nuclear weapons but has continued enriching uranium in response to US sanctions.
Experts estimate that Iran now possesses enough enriched uranium for at least 3-5 nuclear bombs, threatening to further destabilise the Middle East.
