ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq – The United States on Wednesday imposed a series of new sanctions targeting Iran’s oil and petroleum industry, including its largest Iran-related action in years. Tehran condemned Washington’s measures as a violation of human rights.

The US Department of State on Wednesday announced imposing sanctions on 20 entities and identifying 10 vessels as blocked property for their involvement in Iran’s petroleum industry.

On the same day, Department of the Treasury said it was designating more than 50 individuals and entities and identifying more than 50 vessels “that are part of the vast shipping empire controlled by Mohammad Hossein Shamkhani (Hossein),” son of Ali Shamkhani, senior political advisor to Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

“This network transports oil and petroleum products from Iran and Russia, as well as other cargo, to buyers around the world, generating tens of billions of dollars in profit,” said the Treasury, alleging that Hossein “leverages corruption through his father’s political influence at the highest levels of the Iranian regime.”

Esmail Baghaei, spokesperson for the Iranian foreign ministry, condemned the sanctions, saying they “have no goal other than to weaken Iran and violate the fundamental rights of every Iranian.”

“The unilateral and illegal US sanctions against Iran are a criminal act that violates the fundamental principles and rules of international law and human rights, and are considered an example of a crime against humanity,” said Baghaei.

“The US government must be held accountable for the gross violations of human rights resulting from these illegal sanctions,” he added.

Since returning to the White House in January, US President Donald Trump has adopted increasingly tougher policies against Iran. In February, he signed a national security presidential memorandum, restoring his maximum pressure policy on Iran and detailing a series of new economic measures against the Islamic republic. 

The action against Hossein’s shipping network includes over 115 sanctions and is the US’ “biggest Iran-related sanctions package since 2018.”