UANI Applauds New U.S. Sanctions on Iran’s Illicit Oil Trade

 UANI Identified Ghost Fleet Vessels and Warned Refiner Recently Sanctioned

(New York, NY) – Today, United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI) CEO Ambassador Mark D. Wallace released the following statement applauding President Trump and his administration’s “Economic Fury” campaign, including Friday’s sanctions targeting vessels and entities that facilitate the shipment and purchase of Iranian oil:

“UANI applauds President Trump and his administration for this latest tranche of sanctions targeting the dark fleet transporting Iranian oil and petrochemicals. These include eleven vessels originally identified by UANI as evading U.S. sanctions. Additionally, the Trump administration designated a Chinese teapot refiner prolific in importing Iranian crude to China. UANI wrote to this refiner, Hengli Petrochemical Refinery Co., Ltd., multiple times warning it of the sanctions risk. Last week, it was sanctioned by the U.S. government.

“These sanctions underscore the scale of Iran’s illicit oil network and the importance of sustained enforcement against both the vessels moving sanctioned cargo and the refiners that buy it. UANI will continue to expose the dark fleet and the enablers that profit from the Iranian oil trade.”

Eleven vessels sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury Department in this package were originally designated on UANI’s Ghost Armada list. They include LISBOA (IMO 9257711), LYNN (IMO 9352559), GLOBAL VIVIAN (IMO 9002908), MAGNOLIA (IMO 9258519), COVENIO (IMO 9263227), ZHEN ZHU (IMO 9290359), MIRAAN (IMO 9242481), GALVIN (IMO 9387762), HH GLORY (IMO 9534614), ANSHUN II (IMO 9253117), and BENTLEY (IMO 9220914). 

Additionally, UANI had previously written to the Chinese teapot refiner Hengli Petrochemical Refinery Co., Ltd. in March 2023 and again in April 2025, warning them of the sanctions risk and urging them to halt their import of Iranian crude. 

To read UANI’s April 2025 letter to Hengli, click here.