US Increases Sanctions To Iranian Oil Export Operators

JAKARTA - The administration of US President Donald Trump issued additional sanctions related to Iran, targeting 13 entities based in Hong Kong, China, the United Arab Emirates, and the Marshall Islands, as well as eight ships.

The sanctions include Greek citizens Antonios Margaritis and a network of companies and ships that the US Treasury said were involved in transporting Iranian oil exports that violated sanctions.

There are no details regarding the sanctions imposed by America.

The US also designated Ares Shipping Limited in Hong Kong, Comford Management in the Marshall Islands, and Hong Kong Hangshun Shipping Limited in Hong Kong.

The crude oil tankers were designated including Panamanian-flagged vessels Adeline G and Kongm, as well as Sao Tome and Principe-flagged Lafit.

The US State Department separately said it had imposed sanctions on two terminal operators and storage for China-based oil-related storage.

The operator handles Iranian oil imports on tankers that were previously targeted by US sanctions.

The companies were identified as Qingdao Port Haiye Dongjiakou Oil Products Co in Shandong Province and Yangshan Shengang International Petroleum Storage and Transportation Co in Zhejiang Province.

Someone at Qingdao Port Haeye Dongjiakou Oil Products Co who answered a phone call told Reuters they were not aware of the sanctions and declined to comment.

Iran suspended negotiations with Washington aimed at curbing the Islamic Republic's nuclear ambitions after the US and Israel attacked its nuclear site in June.

Iran denies any intention to develop an atomic bomb.

Iran's top diplomat said on Wednesday the moment for "effective" nuclear negotiations with the United States had not yet arrived.

But Iran insists it will not completely decide on cooperation with the United Nations (UN) nuclear watchdog, the IAEA.