Trump administration sanctions ‘shadow fleet’ allegedly evading Iranian oil restrictions

HUNT VALLEY, Md. (TNND) — The Trump administration sanctioned nine ships on Friday that are allegedly evading restrictions on Iranian oil.

The Treasury Department said the vessels were part of a “shadow fleet” that has shipped hundreds of millions of dollars worth of Iranian oil and petroleum products to foreign markets.

Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s administration is allegedly using the revenue to fund its security services, weapons programs and terrorist groups as the U.S. increases pressure on the regime, although The National News Desk (TNND) couldn’t confirm. TNND has been unable to request comment from the Khamenei regime.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in a statement that the sanctions target Khamenei’s ability to generate funds to repress protests against his administration, which some Iranians have criticized for its management of the economy.

“The Iranian regime is engaged in a ritual of economic self-immolation—a process that has been accelerated by President Trump’s maximum pressure campaign,” Bessent said.

“Tehran’s decision to support terrorists over its own people has caused Iran’s currency and living conditions to be in free fall.”

Khamenei has defended his response to the protests, which he says are provoked by the U.S. The Trump administration has hired people to demonstrate against the regime and further Washington’s goal of controlling Iran, Khamenei has claimed.

“From the beginning of the Islamic Revolution until today, the US has lost its dominance over Iran. And they want to bring Iran under their military, political & economic domination again,” the supreme leader said in a social media post earlier this month. “This isn’t [solely] related to the current US president either! It’s a general US policy.”

President Donald Trump has encouraged protesters to continue demonstrating against Khamenei and warned against any heavy-handed response to them. He said in a Truth Social post on Jan. 13 that authorities caught killing protesters would “pay a big price.”

“Iranian Patriots, KEEP PROTESTING – TAKE OVER YOUR INSTITUTIONS!!! Save the names of the killers and abusers. They will pay a big price,” the president wrote. “I have cancelled all meetings with Iranian Officials until the senseless killing of protesters STOPS. HELP IS ON ITS WAY.”

Amnesty International, the human rights group, has estimated that thousands of protesters have died, although TNND can’t confirm. Secretary General Agnès Callamard said in a statement on Jan. 14 that Iranian authorities were using mass killings to repress the demonstrations.

“As large sectors of Iranian society flooded the streets braving bullets, Iran’s Supreme Leader and security forces have waged their deadliest crackdown yet,” she said. “The authorities have deliberately turned to mass killings of protesters who have been demanding fundamental change and transition from the Islamic Republic system to a new system of government which respects peoples’ human rights and dignity.”

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