Obgist | Nigeria News, Celebrity Scoop, International Gist and Tech News

The US Treasury imposes fresh sanctions on 30 entities and vessels tied to Iran’s illegal oil trade and drone programs.

The United States government is turning up the heat on Iran’s secret financial networks. On Wednesday, the US Department of the Treasury announced a major crackdown, hitting over 30 individuals, companies, and ships with heavy sanctions.

These targets are accused of helping Iran sell oil illegally and supporting its high-tech weapons programs, including ballistic missiles and advanced drones.

The primary focus of this move is Iran’s "shadow fleet." These are vessels that operate under the radar to move Iranian oil and petrochemicals to international markets, bypassing existing trade bans. 

By cutting off these ships, the US aims to dry up the funds Iran uses to build weapons and support its allies.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent made it clear that Iran is exploiting global financial systems. According to him, the proceeds from this "illicit oil" are being laundered to buy parts for nuclear programs and to fund terrorist proxies.

Among the 12 vessels singled out are the Panama-flagged HOOT, which allegedly shipped gas to Bangladesh, and the OCEAN KOI, accused of moving millions of barrels of fuel. 

Other ships on the list were found delivering supplies to markets in East Asia, Turkiye, and Pakistan.

But it isn't just about ships. The Treasury also blacklisted nine entities across Iran, Türkiye, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). 

These groups are allegedly the "middlemen" who buy the chemicals and machinery Iran needs to build its famous Shahed and Mohajer drones.

The report also revealed a chilling detail: some Iranian technicians have even traveled to Russia and Venezuela to provide hands-on technical support for these drones.

With these new rules, any property or money these individuals or companies have in the US is now frozen. This latest move brings the total number of sanctioned Iranian targets to over 875 in just over a year, showing that the US is not slowing down its pressure campaign.