The US Treasury Department announced additional sanctions related to Iran on Thursday, targeting 13 entities located in Hong Kong, China, the UAE and the Marshall Islands, as well as eight vessels.
Greek national Antonis Margaritis and his network of companies and ships are also included in the punitive measures, as they are believed to be involved in transporting Iranian oil exports in contravention of the sanctions imposed.
The sanctions also included Ares Shipping Limited in Hong Kong, Comford Management in the Marshall Islands, as well as Hong Kong Hangchun Shipping Limited. Among the targeted tankers, there are «Adeline G» And...«Kongm» Under the flag of Panama, and«Lafitte» flying the flag of Sao Tome and Principe.
The US State Department has sanctioned two Chinese companies that operate oil storage terminals and warehouses, citing their handling of Iranian oil imports via tankers previously subject to US sanctions. These companies are Qingdao Port Hai Dongjiakou Petroleum Products in Shandong, and Yangshan Shengang International Petroleum Storage and Transportation in Zhejiang.
In response to a query from Reuters, Qingdao Port Hai Dongjiakou stated that it was not aware of the sanctions in question.
Iran has suspended talks with Washington aimed at curbing Tehran’s nuclear ambitions after attacks on its nuclear sites by the United States and Israel in June, which came amid a 12-day conflict.
In a statement, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi stressed that the time is not right for "effective" nuclear talks with the United States, and explained that Iran will continue its cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency.
