Core Viewpoint - The U.S. Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) is intensifying sanctions against Iran's oil and petrochemical exports, particularly targeting companies and shipping networks from China that support Iran's crude oil and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) exports [1] Group 1: Sanctions Overview - The current round of sanctions is part of a new initiative set for 2025, following previous actions in July and August 2025 aimed at key facilitators of Iran's oil exports [1] - The sanctions are designed to disrupt Iran's access to foreign exchange and financing through its "shadow fleet" [1] Group 2: Chinese Entities Involved - A list of Chinese entities and vessels involved in activities related to Iran has been compiled, highlighting their roles in facilitating oil exports [2][3] - Qingdao Hexin United is noted for unloading nearly 2 million barrels of Iranian crude oil at Qingdao Port on behalf of the National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) [2] - Shandong Jincheng Petrochemical has been purchasing millions of barrels of Iranian crude oil since 2023, utilizing sanctioned intermediaries for procurement [2] - Rizhao Shihua Crude Oil Terminal Co. has received numerous shipments from the "shadow fleet," totaling millions of barrels of Iranian crude oil [2] Group 3: Shipping and Management Companies - Neowave Management has been involved in transporting approximately 2 million barrels of Iranian crude oil to China, valued at around $2 billion [2] - Blue Ocean Marine Company has loaded millions of barrels of Iranian crude oil for delivery to Chinese ports [3] - Anglo Premier Shipping PTE. has provided support for at least seven Iranian oil tankers in Singapore [3] Group 4: Trade and Financial Transactions - Amita Petrochemical Trading has been procuring Iranian petrochemical products since 2023, facilitating significant sales transactions [3] - AIX Company Limited has been used for transferring over $100 million in Iranian LPG sales proceeds [3] - Slogal Energy DMCC is involved in purchasing and transporting Iranian LPG to various countries, including Sri Lanka and Bangladesh [3]

Group 1 - The discount for Iranian crude oil sold in China has increased to over $6 per barrel compared to Brent, rising from $5 at the beginning of September and $3 in March [1][2] - U.S. sanctions have impacted imports at major oil terminals in Shandong, affecting independent refiners that rely on Iranian crude [2][3] - Sanctions have led to reduced shipments to sanctioned ports, as the U.S. targets Chinese oil terminals and independent refiners [3] Group 2 - High stock levels at import hubs and insufficient government import quotas for independent refiners are contributing to the increased discounts for Iranian crude [4] - Onshore commercial crude stocks in Shandong reached a record-high of 293 million barrels as of August 22, which is 20 million barrels higher than early July [4] - China is accumulating crude inventories at a rate of approximately 1 million barrels per day and may continue to stockpile crude through 2026 if oil prices remain stable [5]