U.S. sanctions 9 tankers and 8 companies over Iran oil shipments, amid protests and internet blackout.

The U.S. imposed sanctions on nine oil tankers and eight companies linked to Iran’s shadow fleet for allegedly transporting sanctioned Iranian oil, aiming to disrupt funding for the regime’s crackdown on nationwide protests. The move, announced by the Treasury Department, targets vessels flagged under Palau, Panama, and other jurisdictions, freezing their U.S. assets and banning transactions with Americans. The sanctions follow Iran’s prolonged internet blackout starting January 8 to suppress protest-related information, amid reports of over 5,000 deaths. The action coincides with the deployment of an American aircraft carrier group near the Middle East, described by President Trump as an “armada” prepared for potential military action.