British News Agency

The U.S. administration announced new sanctions against 15 entities, two individuals, and 14 vessels referred to as the “shadow fleet,” which are said to be linked to Iran’s oil trade.

In a statement by the U.S. Department of State, it was emphasized that the administration of Donald Trump, under the “maximum pressure” campaign, is determined to reduce the Iranian regime’s illegal exports of oil and petrochemical products.

The sanctions decision was announced after indirect talks between the United States and Iran, held in Muscat, the capital of Oman, concluded on Friday.

According to Iran’s official news agency IRNA, Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi stated that only the nuclear issue was discussed during the talks and that no other topics were raised with Washington.

Araghchi stressed that the “very deep distrust” stemming from past contacts between the two countries poses a “very major challenge” to the negotiations.

Ahead of the talks, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said that the U.S. president has many options beyond diplomacy.