The US Department of Justice announced that it had confiscated more than 500,000 barrels of Iranian oil worth $25 million. The ministry also announced criminal charges against buyers of Iranian crude oil in China, Russia and Syria.
American officials described these measures, which come at a time of escalating tension between the United States and Iran, as part of a broader effort to obstruct financial aid to the Iranian army. An Iranian expert in the energy sector said that Republicans in America are trying to reduce Iranian oil sales.