The United States has imposed new sanctions aimed at dismantling a major Iranian shipping network allegedly used to evade existing restrictions on Tehran’s oil trade and other activities. The U.S. Treasury Department said the network, led by Mohammad Hossein Shamkhani, was helping Iran bypass previous sanctions. Treasury Secretary Scott Besant stated that Washington is shutting down the financial infrastructure that enables Iran to threaten U.S. national security and the international maritime system.

According to the Treasury, the move is part of a broader effort to increase economic pressure on Tehran, following similar sanctions issued last year and in April this year. Under the new measures, more than 200 individuals, entities, and vessels linked to Shamkhani’s network have been sanctioned. All assets of the listed parties within the United States will be blocked, and U.S. citizens or companies are prohibited from conducting any transactions with them.

Iran’s mission to the United Nations declined to comment immediately on the new sanctions, according to the report sourced from Reuters.