On February 25, the US Treasury Department announced the imposition of new sanctions targeting Iran's illegal oil transportation network.
This list includes old oil tankers, often called "dark fleets", specializing in underground trade activities to help Iran evade international sanctions.
According to the US, revenue from this illegal oil sales directly flows into the budget for Iran's ballistic missile program and production of unmanned aerial vehicles (drones).
This sanction is considered a strong blow to Tehran's economic lifeline right before the nuclear talks scheduled to take place in Geneva this weekend.
Designated oil tankers such as Ocean Koi or Hoot will have all assets related to US jurisdiction frozen, and international individuals and organizations will also be warned of risks when trading with these entities.
Washington affirmed that this is part of a maximum pressure campaign to force Iran to return to the negotiating table with stricter terms.
In addition to the energy sector, sanctions also target military component procurement networks in Turkey and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). These networks are accused of helping the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) own sensitive equipment and chemical precursors for weapons manufacturing.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent emphasized that the US will use all economic tools to prevent Iran from prioritizing military resources rather than improving people's lives.
In his State of the Union address on the evening of February 24, President Donald Trump also reaffirmed his unwavering stance against Iran's nuclear ambitions.
He emphasized that Washington will not allow Tehran to collect billions of USD from oil to finance destabilizing regional activities.
Experts believe that tightening sanctions at this time is the US's way of creating an optimal advantage before entering tense diplomatic discussions.
The US military presence in the Middle East has also been strengthened synchronously with economic sanctions. Aircraft carrier and F-22 stealth fighters have been deployed to the region as a strong deterrent message.
The Middle East situation is currently at a state of extreme tension as both Washington and Tehran have shown no signs of compromising on the "red lines" in the nuclear program and regional security.
