Iran has closed the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for transporting oil and gas, in retaliation for the US and Israeli military campaign
The United States announced this Wednesday (15) that it will tighten sanctions against Iran’s oil industry, while Tehran maintains the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. “The Treasury Department is taking strong action through ‘Economic Rage’ by targeting regime elites such as the Shamkhani family, who tries to profit at the expense of the Iranian people.”United States Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in a statement, referring to a financial pressure campaign against Iran which refers to the name of the American military operation that triggered the war.
“The United States is acting to decisively limit Iran’s ability to generate revenue while attempting to hold the Strait of Hormuz hostage,” the State Department said in a separate statement.
These measures target oil transportation infrastructure by imposing sanctions on more than 20 people, companies and vessels operating within the network of oil transportation magnate Mohammad Hossein Shamkhani, the Treasury Department reported.
Shamkhani is the son of security official Ali Shamkhani, an aide to Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, assassinated on February 28, on the first day of attacks by the United States and Israel at the start of the war in the Middle East.
Iran has closed the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for transporting oil and gas, in retaliation for the military campaign by the United States and Israel. The United States is now carrying out a naval blockade of Iranian ports.
