US hits 9 tankers with sanctions over Iranian oil during protest crackdown and internet shutdown
January 23, 2026
The United States has imposed sanctions on a fleet of nine ships accused of transporting hundreds of millions of dollars in forbidden Iranian oil to foreign markets. The Treasury Department said Friday the sanctions are being imposed because of Iran’s “shutdown of internet access to conceal its abuses” against its citizens during its crackdown on nationwide protests. The Islamic Republic’s government blocked internet access on Jan. 8 as nationwide protests led to a crackdown on information sharing. President Donald Trump says his threats on Iran have prevented the execution of 800 dissidents. Iran’s top prosecutor calls Trump’s claims “completely false.”