Iran Condemns US Shipping Sanctions, Calls Them 'Illegitimate and Unlawful'

Iran has condemned the United States' decision to impose sanctions on shipping companies and tankers involved in transporting Iranian crude oil to China. The Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Esmaeil Baghaei, called the sanctions "illegitimate and unlawful," stating that they would prevent Iran from engaging in legitimate trade with its partners. The sanctions, announced by the US Treasury on Thursday, target individuals and vessels responsible for shipping millions of barrels of Iranian oil to China annually. These sanctions mark the first US action against Iran's oil sector since President Donald Trump pledged to bring Iran's crude exports to zero, as part of efforts to curtail the country's nuclear capabilities.