US sanctions Chinese refinery over Iranian oil purchases

US sanctions Chinese refinery over Iranian oil purchases The Trump administration has imposed fresh sanctions on a Chinese refinery accused of buying large volumes of Iranian oil, as Washington and Tehran prepare for another round of talks. The US Treasury said it targeted Hengli Petrochemical (Dalian), describing it as a major buyer of Iranian crude and petroleum products. Officials also sanctioned around 40 shipping companies and vessels linked to what they described as Iran’s “shadow fleet”, used to move oil despite restrictions.