US, UK, Australia Tighten Sanctions On Iran Over Oil Trade, Security Threats

08:04 12.5.2026

The US Treasury Department has sanctioned 12 individuals and entities accused of helping the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) facilitate the sale and shipment of Iranian oil to China, as Washington intensifies its “maximum pressure” campaign against Tehran.

In a statement released on May 11, the Treasury said the measures are aimed at disrupting Iran’s ability to generate, move, and repatriate funds used to support its weapons programs, terrorist proxies, and nuclear ambitions.

“As Iran’s military desperately tries to regroup, Economic Fury will continue to deprive the regime of funding for its weapons programs, terrorist proxies, and nuclear ambitions,” Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said.

Bessent added that the Treasury “will continue to cut the Iranian regime off from the financial networks it uses to carry out terrorist acts and to destabilize the global economy.”

Meanwhile, Australia announced on May 12 new targeted financial sanctions and travel bans against Iranian individuals and entities over what it described as the regime’s ongoing brutal oppression of its people and destabilizing regional activities.

“The seven individuals and four entities sanctioned today include senior officials and entities involved in these horrific acts, including violence against women and children,” the Australian government said in a statement released on May 12.

The move came alongside fresh sanctions imposed by the United Kingdom targeting organizations and individuals accused of enabling hostile Iranian activities and overseas criminal operations.

The UK Foreign Office said the measures respond to Iran’s action against “global security and its use of criminal gangs to carry out threats overseas.”

“Criminal proxies backed by parts of the Iranian regime who threaten security in the UK and Europe will not be tolerated, nor will illicit finance networks,” British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said.

The United Kingdom already has imposed more than 550 sanctions on Iranian individuals and organizations, including the entirety of the IRGC and over 90 sanctions in response to human rights violations.

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