The United States has introduced a new round of sanctions against Iran, targeting financial intermediaries, shipping networks and energy-related companies in an effort to restrict Tehran’s access to international revenue streams.
The measures were announced by the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (Office of Foreign Assets Control), which said it had designated a major Iranian foreign currency exchange house along with associated front companies accused of facilitating large-scale transactions for sanctioned banks.
According to the Treasury, the action is part of a broader enforcement effort aimed at disrupting financial flows that support Iranian state-linked economic activity.
The sanctions package reportedly targets more than 50 companies, individuals and vessels involved in generating revenue for Iran’s economy, particularly through oil, petrochemical and financial channels.
Officials said 19 vessels linked to Iranian petroleum and petrochemical exports have been blocked, as part of efforts to curb shipments that have generated hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue for Tehran.
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The Treasury also warned that further measures could be taken against foreign companies and institutions that continue to engage in business with sanctioned Iranian entities, including airlines and financial intermediaries.
It added that secondary sanctions could be imposed on international banks that facilitate transactions connected to Iran’s restricted sectors, signalling a potential expansion of enforcement pressure beyond direct targets.
The announcement comes amid heightened tensions between Washington and Tehran, as diplomatic efforts to stabilise relations remain fragile and uneven.
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Analysts say the latest sanctions reflect a continued U.S. strategy of economic pressure aimed at limiting Iran’s ability to fund state activities, including its regional networks and energy exports.
Iran has repeatedly criticised such sanctions as unlawful and economically damaging, arguing that they hinder humanitarian trade and broader economic development.
The measures are expected to further strain Iran’s already constrained financial system, which has been under extensive international sanctions for years targeting banking, energy exports and access to global markets.
The latest action underscores the continued use of financial restrictions as a key tool of U.S. foreign policy in relation to Iran, particularly as geopolitical tensions in the Middle East remain elevated.
