US sanctions Chinese refiner and another raft of shadow fleet vessels in Economic Fury campaign

The US Treasury Department sanctioned a Chinese refinery and nearly 20 alleged shadow fleet vessels in its Economic Fury campaign against Iran.

The move appeared aimed at putting pressure on Iran, amid a continued blockade of the country’s ports, as officials from Tehran and Washington headed to Pakistan for another round of peace talks.

Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control blacklisted Hengli Petrochemical Dalian Refinery, accusing it of being one of Iran’s biggest customers for crude and petroleum products.

The company, which could not be immediately reached for , is one of China’s independent “teapot” refiners, which are the primary market for Iran’s energy exports.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said OFAC’s Economic Fury campaign is imposing a “financial stranglehold” on Iran.

“At President Trump’s direction, Treasury will continue to constrict the network of vessels, intermediaries, and buyers Iran relies on to move its oil to global markets. Any person or vessel facilitating these flows—through covert trade and finance—risks exposure to U.S. sanctions,” he said.

OFAC also sanctioned 19 tankers and gas carriers, as well as their owners.

The newly sanctioned ships included seven VLCCs and two suezmax crude tankers, as well as a trio of MR chemical tankers and two LR1 product carriers.

The list also included three VLGCs, as well as a small LPG and ethylene carrier.

information for their sanctioned owners and managers was not available, as none has a public profile.

Treasury accused the ships of transporting billions of dollars’ worth of Iranian crude, LPG, oil products and petrochemicals.

“The Iranian shadow fleet serves as the critical link between Iranian oil producers and end users in Asia,” the department said.