President Donald Trump has ordered sweeping sanctions on an Iranian oil magnate and his associates after uncovering a covert operation to smuggle U.S.-sourced liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) to China—an attempt that violated U.S. sanctions and would have funneled critical resources to the Iranian regime.
The U.S. Treasury Department, under Trump’s direction, has sanctioned Seyed Asadoollah Emamjomeh, his son Meisam Emamjomeh, and their vast international petroleum network. The sanctions block all assets under U.S. jurisdiction and prohibit any U.S. persons or businesses from conducting transactions with the targeted individuals or entities.
According to officials, the Emamjomeh network was involved in an elaborate operation to quietly load LPG—liquefied petroleum gas—off the Texas Gulf Coast and export it to China. The vessel at the center of the attempted scheme, the TINOS I, was caught preparing to load cargo near Houston in June 2024. Intelligence revealed the shipment was organized by a front company tied to the Emamjomehs and was meant to illegally generate revenue for the Iranian government.
U.S. authorities acted swiftly, exposing the plot before the fuel left American waters.
“This was not just an illegal business deal—it was a direct threat to U.S. national security and global stability,” a senior Trump administration official said. “We are cutting off lifelines to a regime that funds terrorism, undermines regional peace, and seeks to evade our laws.”
The Iranian regime has long relied on revenue from petroleum sales to prop up its economy and fund its network of extremist proxy groups across the Middle East. LPG, though less visible than crude oil, is a key asset in Iran’s global trade portfolio, often used to move cash under the radar of traditional sanctions enforcement.
By targeting this illicit trade network, the Trump administration is sending a clear message: American energy will not be exploited by foreign adversaries, and those who attempt to skirt U.S. law will face the full weight of economic warfare.
The sanctions are part of President Trump’s larger strategy to dismantle the Iranian regime’s financial apparatus, which includes ongoing efforts to isolate Tehran diplomatically, eliminate nuclear ambitions, and hold accountable the corrupt elite enriching themselves at the expense of global peace.
Analysts say this latest move is another example of Trump’s aggressive but effective foreign policy posture—where strength, not appeasement, leads the way. The action also reinforces the administration’s broader push to secure American energy assets and prevent hostile foreign regimes from benefiting from U.S. resources.
The Emamjomeh network now finds itself locked out of the global financial system, with any assets in reach of U.S. enforcement frozen. Anyone found aiding their operations faces steep civil and criminal penalties.
Once again, President Trump has proven he’s not afraid to confront foreign corruption head-on—and when it comes to defending America’s energy and economic sovereignty, there’s zero room for compromise.