**Excerpt:** The Trump administration has imposed new sanctions on a fleet of vessels transporting Iranian oil, amid ongoing protests in Iran and claims of protester deaths.
Key Points
– The U.S. sanctions include nine ships involved in transporting Iranian oil.
– Sanctions aim to cut funding for regional terrorism and the Iranian government’s crackdown on citizens.
– The Treasury Department previously sanctioned Iranian security officials linked to the protests.
– President Trump claims to have halted executions of protesters, a statement disputed by Iran.
– Thousands are reportedly dead amid ongoing anti-government protests in Iran.
U.S. Sanctions on Iranian Oil Transport
On January 23, 2026, the Trump administration announced a new round of sanctions targeting the Iranian regime. This latest measure focuses on a “shadow fleet” of vessels responsible for transporting Iranian oil and petroleum products. The U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control is sanctioning nine ships, alongside their owners and management firms.
Economic Pressure on Iran
The administration asserts that hundreds of millions of dollars from oil sales to foreign nations have been diverted to support regional terrorist proxies and weapons programs. In addition, the U.S. has previously sanctioned tankers that transported oil from Venezuela, recently seizing at least seven ships as part of an enforcement strategy against Venezuela’s oil exports.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated, “The Iranian regime is engaged in a situation of economic self-immolation,” attributing this to President Trump’s “maximum pressure campaign.” He emphasized that Tehran’s prioritization of terrorist support over its citizens has led to a decline in the country’s currency and living conditions.
Context of Protests
The sanctions are part of a broader strategy to exert economic pressure on Iran amid a violent crackdown on peaceful protesters. Last week, the Treasury Department sanctioned Iranian security officials deemed responsible for the suppression of dissent. Earlier this week, President Trump claimed to have prevented the execution of hundreds of Iranian protesters, a claim that has been challenged by Iranian authorities.
Reports indicate that thousands have died during the anti-government protests, although verifying these claims has been challenging due to restrictions on information access imposed by the Iranian government.
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