US imposes new sanctions targeting Iranian oil and weapons sales

Washington (ANTARA) - The United States government on Wednesday (February 25) imposed sanctions on more than 30 individuals, entities, and vessels that facilitate Iran’s “illegal” oil sales and support the production of ballistic missiles and advanced conventional weapons (ACW).

Announced by the US Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control in a statement, the sanctions target 12 vessels along with their respective owners and operators.

According to the statement, the sanctions also target several networks that enable Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and the Ministry of Defence and Logistics of the Iranian Armed Forces to acquire the raw materials and sensitive equipment needed to restore their ballistic missile and ACW production capacity and to distribute unmanned aerial vehicles to third countries.

In 2025, the US government imposed sanctions on more than 875 individuals, vessels, and aircraft as part of Washington’s “maximum pressure” campaign against Iran.

US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday (February 24) that he would never allow Iran to develop nuclear weapons, while accusing the country of developing missiles that could reach the US in the near future.

A new round of talks between the US and Iran is scheduled to take place on Thursday (February 26) in Geneva and is expected to focus on Iran’s nuclear program, including the level of uranium enrichment and the lifting of sanctions.

Many analysts say that the upcoming round of talks between the US and Iran could mark the last diplomatic opportunity before a possible joint military operation by the US and Israel against Iran.