US Sanctions 17 Vessels Carrying Iranian Oil; Iran Halts Crude Loading, Unloading

The US government has sanctioned 17 vessels involved in transporting Iranian crude oil, petroleum products and petrochemicals. Iran has halted both the loading and unloading of crude cargoes on its tankers because of the US maritime blockade and sanctions, a US Treasury official said.

On Oct. 8, the US Treasury Department announced new sanctions on 17 ships tied to shipments of Iranian crude, petroleum products and petrochemicals.

The official said Iran had stopped both loading crude onto tankers and unloading those cargoes because of the US maritime blockade and sanctions.

The US government estimates that vessels outside the blockade zone around Iranian ports are still carrying about 20 million barrels of Iranian crude.