According to a report by The Times Of Israel on January 23, 2026, the United States has imposed sanctions on nine vessels identified as part of Iran’s shadow fleet, along with eight associated firms, the Treasury Department announced, in a move aimed at intensifying pressure on Tehran following the recent deaths of protesters.
According to the Treasury, the targeted vessels and their owners or management companies—which include entities based in India, Oman, and the United Arab Emirates—have collectively transported hundreds of millions of dollars in Iranian oil and petroleum products to international markets.
“Today’s sanctions target a critical component of how Iran generates the funds used to repress its own people. As previously outlined, Treasury will continue to track the tens of millions of dollars that the regime has stolen and is desperately attempting to wire to banks outside of Iran,” Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in the statement.
Human rights organizations report that thousands, including innocent bystanders, have been killed during the unrest in Iran, describing it as the largest crackdown since Shi’ite clerics assumed power in the 1979 revolution.
US President Donald Trump has repeatedly threatened action against Iran over the killing of protesters, although demonstrations decreased last week and his public rhetoric on the issue has softened.
The shadow fleet refers to ships transporting oil under sanctions. These vessels are typically older, have opaque ownership structures, and often operate without top-tier insurance, making them unsuitable for major international oil companies and many ports.
By targeting these ships and companies, the US aims to cut off a key revenue source for Iran, which officials say is used to fund internal repression.
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