The United States has announced a new round of sanctions against Iran, targeting major companies in the country’s automotive and railway sectors as part of Washington’s ongoing effort to increase economic pressure on Tehran.
According to the US Treasury Department, the measures were introduced on Thursday and also affect several international suppliers linked to Iran’s transportation and manufacturing industries.
The sanctions fall under “Operation Economic Outcast,” a program launched on August 24 that aims to restrict revenue streams the US government says are used to support Iran’s military activities, missile development programs, cyber operations, and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
US officials say the broader objective of the initiative is to increase pressure on Tehran and encourage negotiations aimed at ending the conflict that began following a US-Israeli strike on Iran approximately seven months ago.
Focus on Transportation and Industry
The latest sanctions come as Iran faces growing challenges in moving goods and energy products. US restrictions on Iranian oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz have reportedly pushed the country to rely more heavily on rail networks and road transportation to move petroleum products, chemicals, fertilizers, and other goods.
Washington says the new sanctions are designed to target those alternative transportation channels and reduce Iran’s ability to generate revenue through them.
Major Companies Added to Sanctions List
Among the organizations affected are Iran Khodro Company (IKCO) and SAIPA, two of Iran’s largest automobile manufacturers. The Treasury Department stated that the companies account for more than 90 percent of the country’s domestic vehicle market.
The sanctions also target the Islamic Republic of Iran Railway Company, the state-owned operator responsible for passenger and freight rail services across the country.
Additional entities included in the sanctions package are Raja Passenger Trains Company and Railway Transportation Company (Sherkat-e Rah Ahan-e Khamle-o-Naghle), which US officials describe as one of Iran’s leading private freight rail operators.
US Statement
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the measures are intended to weaken the financial networks that support the Iranian government.
According to Bessent, the sanctions directly target organizations that help sustain Iran’s economy and are part of a broader strategy aimed at reducing the country’s revenue sources in coordination with US allies and partners.
The latest action marks another step in Washington’s campaign to increase economic pressure on Tehran, with transportation and industrial sectors now becoming key targets of US sanctions policy.
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