WASHINGTON (Dispatches) -- The United States on Thursday imposed sanctions on companies it accused of involvement in Iran’s petrochemical and petroleum trade, including five based in China.
“So long as Iran refuses a mutual return to full implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, the United States will continue to enforce its sanctions on the sale of Iranian petroleum and petrochemical products,” the Treasury’s Brian Nelson said in a statement.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a separate

statement that the State Department designated two China-based companies, Zhonggu Storage and Transportation Co Ltd and WS Shipping Co Ltd.
Blinken accused Zhonggu Storage and Transportation Co Ltd of operating a commercial crude oil storage facility for Iranian petroleum and WS Shipping Co Ltd of being a ship manager for a vessel that has transported Iranian petroleum products.