Trump Sanctions Hit Iran: Russia and Venezuela Next?
What is the latest news about Trump's maximum pressure campaign on Iran, Russia, and Venezuela?
Iran
The U.S. Treasury has expanded sanctions against a network of individuals and firms allegedly funneling millions of barrels of Iranian oil to China, escalating efforts to choke off Tehran’s energy revenues.
The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) targeted more than a dozen entities and individuals across China, India, and the UAE, including Iranian and Indian nationals, crew management firms, and multiple vessels.
Among them were a very-large crude carrier (VLCC) and two Aframaxes, which the Treasury claims played a key role in moving Iranian oil to China. The network reportedly operated on behalf of Tehran’s Armed Forces General Staff through a sanctioned front company, Sepehr Energy Jahan Nama Pars.
“We don’t want to be tough on Iran. We don’t want to be tough on anybody,” Trump stated. “But they just can’t have a nuclear bomb.”
The latest measures align with an executive order issued this week that mandates stricter enforcement to eliminate Iran’s oil exports. The Treasury’s crackdown is seen as a direct response to that directive, reinforcing Washington’s push to isolate Tehran’s energy sector.
Russia
Sanctions on Russian President Vladimir Putin barely register, ranking “only about a three” on a scale of one to ten in terms of economic pressure, according to retired General Keith Kellogg. In an interview, he suggested that the measures remain far from their maximum impact.
President Donald Trump, however, is prepared to escalate sanctions further, aiming to force the Kremlin to end its war in Ukraine.
This push builds on the European Union’s December sanctions, which blacklisted dozens of oil and gas tankers. The latest penalties extend those restrictions, barring another 52 vessels from EU ports and bringing the total to 79.
The move targets Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet”—a network of aging tankers operating under opaque ownership structures to move sanctioned fuel beyond regulatory reach.
Venezuela
As of February 7, 2025, the Trump administration has intensified its sanctions against Venezuela. On February 6, the U.S. seized a Venezuelan government aircraft in the Dominican Republic, citing violations of U.S. sanctions, export controls, and money laundering regulations.
In a related development, President Donald Trump announced plans to halt oil purchases from Venezuela, signaling a potential escalation in economic pressure on Maduro's administration.
This decision aligns with the administration's ongoing "maximum pressure" campaign, which has previously included significant sanctions targeting Venezuela's oil industry
Chevron is in talks with the Trump administration over its federal license to operate in Venezuela, following scrutiny from Secretary of State Marco Rubio. CEO Mike Wirth confirmed the discussions Wednesday, noting that the review comes after Rubio questioned the arrangement during his Senate confirmation hearing last month.
The license, originally granted under Biden in exchange for democratic reforms, is now under reconsideration as reports of fraud in Venezuela’s last presidential election mount. The administration’s next move could determine whether U.S. oil imports from the country continue or face new restrictions.