Trump administration imposes sanctions on six companies and five citizens for violating U.S. sanctions on Iran

In May this year, the United States announced that it would stop granting temporary exemptions to eight Iranian oil buyers, including China, Japan and India.

After the oil ban, this was not enough. Just last Saturday, the United States once again "took action" against Iran. On the same day, Trump announced that the United States began to impose sanctions on the National Bank of Iran (central bank).

Now there is new progress.

The U.S. Treasury Department issued a latest notice on its official website stating that the United States will launch a new round of sanctions against five Chinese citizens and six Chinese companies for violating U.S. sanctions against Iran.

The companies sanctioned include:

1. COSCO Shipping Tanker (Dalian) Co., Ltd.;
2. COSCO Shipping Tanker (Dalian) Seaman & Ship Management Co.; 3.
CHINA CONCORD PETROLEUM CO;
4. Kunlun Shipping Company Ltd;
5. Kunlun Holding Company Ltd;
6. Pegasus 88 Limited.

Yesterday, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Geng Shuang hosted a regular press conference. Regarding the recent US announcement of sanctions against six Chinese companies, Geng Shuang said that the US side disregarded the legitimate rights and interests of all parties and wantonly wielded the big stick of sanctions, which was a brutal trampling on the basic norms of international relations, going against the trend and unpopular.

So what is the purpose of the United States' series of actions against Iran?

In response, U.S. Treasury Secretary Mnuchin said last week that the Central Bank of Iran is Tehran’s last source of funds.

In response, US Secretary of State Pompeo pointed out that all measures are aimed at depriving the Iranian regime of vital income.

Pompeo said in a statement that this is within the framework of maximum economic pressure on the Iranian regime and those who promote Iran's destabilizing behavior.

Some energy experts said that the main reasons why the United States imposed sanctions on Iran may be two:

1. Limit Iran’s influence in the Middle East, which can also help its ally Saudi Arabia;

2. The purpose of imposing sanctions on Iranian oil is mainly to further expand the market for American oil. You know, Iran is the third largest oil producer in OPEC.