- U.S. sanctions on Iran remain strict, with renewed focus on oil, shipping, and financial sectors.
- Over 30 global entities sanctioned for facilitating Iranian crude shipments via shadow fleets.
- Diplomatic talks continue, but major sanctions relief remains uncertain amid legal and political hurdles.
The United States continues to enforce and intensify its sanctions against Iran under a rigid “maximum pressure” policy. Recent updates show that primary sanctions—applying to U.S. persons and entities—remain fully in effect, while secondary sanctions targeting non-U.S. individuals and companies have been reinstated, reports North Standard.
Shadow fleet in the crosshairs
These secondary measures now bar most commercial engagements in oil, petrochemicals, energy, shipping, shipbuilding, and related insurance or underwriting services with Iran. The general license that previously allowed certain foreign transactions linked to U.S.-owned entities has been revoked. In addition, hundreds of Iranian-affiliated entities, vessels, and individuals have been relisted as Specially Designated Nationals (SDNs), significantly widening the scope of restricted actors.
These sanctions have disrupted Iran’s crucial oil revenue streams. In early 2025, the U.S. imposed fresh sanctions on more than 30 brokers, tanker operators, and shipping companies associated with Iranian crude shipments, aiming to push Iran’s oil exports toward zero. Notably, several companies based in India, China, the UAE, Malaysia, Seychelles, Liberia, and Panama were sanctioned for facilitating oil trades tied to Iran. These actions primarily target so-called “shadow fleet” operations—such as ship-to-ship transfers, shell companies, and falsified shipping documents—used to obscure Iranian control over illicit shipments.
To prevent evasion, U.S. regulators are urging domestic financial institutions not to support dollar-denominated transactions linked to Iran, while non-U.S. banks are also distancing themselves from Iran-related dealings to avoid secondary sanctions. This environment has raised compliance costs and increased scrutiny for insurers, who must ensure they do not underwrite prohibited activities or interact with non-compliant actors. Some jurisdictions linked to Iran’s covert financial networks have also been classified as high-risk for money laundering, adding further pressure to financial intermediaries.
Despite these escalating measures, diplomatic efforts remain active. In the spring of 2025, U.S. and Iranian representatives engaged in nuclear talks aimed at developing a new agreement similar to the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). Any potential deal is expected to focus on limited sanctions relief in exchange for verifiable nuclear commitments, while maintaining restrictions related to weapons proliferation and regional proxy activities. However, political divisions and legal hurdles within the U.S. may constrain the administration’s ability to offer substantial sanctions relief, even if a diplomatic resolution is reached.
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Source: North Standard
