Pakistan, May 13 -- The United States has announced fresh sanctions against individuals and companies accused of helping Iran export oil to China, intensifying Washington's economic pressure campaign against Tehran. The new restrictions target three individuals and nine companies allegedly involved in transporting and facilitating Iranian oil shipments through international financial and trading networks operating across multiple countries.

According to the US Treasury Department, the sanctions include four companies based in Hong Kong, four operating in the United Arab Emirates and one company located in Oman. Officials claimed these firms assisted Iran in bypassing international restrictions by using front companies and complex trading...