The United States announced new sanctions on October 8 against vessels and companies accused of supporting Iran’s petroleum exports. The U.S. Treasury Department said the measures formed part of Operation Economic Outcast, a campaign aimed at restricting revenue available to the Iranian government.

Treasury said its action covered 17 vessels that transported millions of barrels of Iranian crude oil, petroleum and petrochemical products to markets in South and East Asia. It accused the vessels and their supporting companies of helping Iran evade U.S. sanctions. The designations were imposed under Executive Order 13902.

The department said the shipping network used vessels registered across multiple jurisdictions and international front companies to conceal its activities. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said authorities would continue targeting those enabling Iranian oil sales. The department also said it would monitor vessels entering or leaving the network.

Separately, the Office of Foreign Assets Control removed two vessels from its sanctions list after determining that their circumstances had changed. Treasury said both had left the shadow fleet and been sold to non-sanctioned operators aligned with the United States, allowing them to return to lawful maritime operations.