The United States on Tuesday imposed new sanctions aimed at boosting efforts to disrupt an Iranian shipping network that Washington says helps evade previous sanctions on oil sales and other activities.

The US Treasury Department said the measures against the network of Mohammad Hossein Shamkhani represent its latest efforts to intensify economic pressure on Tehran.

The Treasury added that Shamkhani's network is 'a major force behind Iranian oil exports and has expanded to include global container shipping and commodity trading.'

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said his department 'is working to disrupt the financial infrastructure that allows the regime to continue its threats to US national security and global shipping.' These measures add to sanctions the United States imposed in April and last year. According to the department, the US now imposes sanctions on more than 200 individuals, entities, and vessels operating under Shamkhani's umbrella.

The sanctions issued by the US Treasury targeted individuals, entities, and vessels, but allowed for the gradual winding down of certain activities and restricted transactions related to safety, the environment, and the discharge of cargo related to individuals and vessels covered by Tuesday's sanctions. The sanctions include freezing assets in the United States of listed individuals and entities and prohibiting Americans from engaging in business transactions with them.