US Targets Iranian Oil Smuggling as Trump Resumes Maximum Pressure on Tehran

The US Department of Treasury has rolled out new sanctions targeting individuals and vessels involved in shipping Iranian crude to China. The sanctions, aimed at reducing Iran's oil exports, include entities linked to Iran's Armed Forces General Staff (AFGS) and its front company, Sepehr Energy Jahan Nama Pars. This latest move reflects President Trump’s renewed "maximum pressure" approach to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons.

Trump has made it clear that reducing Iranian oil exports to zero remains a key goal, stressing the need to block any revenue stream that supports Iran’s nuclear program and regional terrorist activities. However, the Iranian government has signaled a potential willingness to negotiate, and OPEC members are urging unity to resist US sanctions on Tehran’s oil exports.

Meanwhile, in the US, energy executives from the Permian Basin are signaling a slowdown in production growth, despite the Trump administration’s push for energy dominance. With capital discipline becoming a key focus, production in the Permian is expected to rise by just 250,000 to 300,000 barrels per day in 2025, down from last year’s 380,000-bpd increase.

The evolving dynamics in both global oil markets and the US energy sector underscore the intersection of politics, energy security, and financial interests as the US and Iran navigate a complex and volatile situation.