Washington sanctions firms accused of shipping Iranian oil to China

The United States has imposed new sanctions on firms facilitating Iranian oil shipments to China, intensifying pressure on Tehran ahead of a planned meeting between President Trump and President Xi Jinping. The Treasury Department sanctioned 12 individuals and companies, including those based in Hong Kong, the UAE, and Oman, accused of helping the IRGC sell and transport Iranian oil through front companies. This move aims to cut off funding streams linked to Iran’s military and nuclear activities, with the State Department offering a $15 million reward for information disrupting the IRGC’s financial operations.