The United States has announced new sanctions targeting companies involved in the import of Iranian oil, aiming to limit the revenue used by Iran to support activities in the Middle East and beyond. The Department of State imposed these measures on two China-based terminal and storage operators accused of facilitating large-scale imports of Iranian-origin crude oil using vessels previously designated by U.S. authorities.
According to the State Department, this is the fourth round of sanctions focused on China-based terminal operators that play a significant role in moving Iranian crude oil. The action is taken under National Security Presidential Memorandum-2, which calls for maximum economic pressure on Iran.
One company named in the announcement is QINGDAO PORT HAIYE DONGJIAKOU OIL PRODUCTS CO., LTD (DJK OIL PRODUCTS), operating in Shandong Province's Dongjiakou Port Area—China’s largest entry point for Iranian crude by volume. In 2025 alone, DJK OIL PRODUCTS reportedly imported at least 65 million barrels of Iranian-origin crude oil via multiple vessels classified as part of a "shadow fleet," including tankers already designated by U.S. authorities. Several shipments were marketed and sold by the NATIONAL IRANIAN OIL COMPANY (NIOC), which is also subject to U.S. sanctions.
Another company, YANGSHAN SHENGANG INTERNATIONAL PETROLEUM STORAGE AND TRANSPORTATION CO., LTD (YANGSHAN SHENGANG), based in Zhejiang Province’s Yangshan Port Area, was also sanctioned. On March 24, 2025, YANGSHAN SHENGANG received the vessel TURACO and facilitated offloading over half a million barrels of Iranian crude sold by NIOC. Between April 2024 and March 2025, it received at least six shipments totaling more than four million barrels from Iran and hosted several other vessels already under U.S. designation.
These sanctions mean that all property or interests belonging to these companies within the United States or controlled by U.S. persons are now blocked and must be reported to the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). Any entities owned 50 percent or more by these blocked persons are also subject to restrictions.
U.S. persons are prohibited from conducting transactions involving property or interests connected to these designated entities unless authorized by OFAC through specific licenses or exemptions. This includes contributions or provision of funds, goods, or services both to and from any blocked person.
"The power and integrity of U.S. government sanctions derive not only from the U.S. government’s ability to designate and add persons to the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons (SDN) List, but also from its willingness to remove persons from the SDN List consistent with the law," stated officials in announcing the move. "The ultimate goal of sanctions is not to punish, but to bring about a positive change in behavior."
Petitions for removal from the SDN List can be submitted via email or through guidance provided on official channels.
"The Iranian regime continues to fuel conflict and instability in the Middle East, disrupting trade flows, developing its nuclear program, and funding terrorist and proxy groups," according to a statement included with today’s announcement.