US sanctions Iran's oil minister and shadow fleet

The U.S. has imposed new sanctions on Iran's oil minister, Mohsen Paknejad, and additional companies and vessels linked to Iran's "shadow fleet." This follows a January 2020 executive order targeting Iran's oil sector. The sanctions aim to disrupt Iran's oil exports, which are vital for its economy. This is the third round of sanctions since a national security memorandum was issued on February 4. The U.S. Treasury has identified vessels from various countries as part of the shadow fleet and designated their owners. The State Department also sanctioned three companies involved in significant transactions related to Iranian petroleum.