The United States Department of State announced on Wednesday that it is sanctioning Shandong Shengxing Chemical Co. Ltd., an independent oil refinery in China, accusing it of purchasing more than a billion dollars’ worth of Iranian crude oil. It also imposed punitive measures on several companies and vessels facilitating oil shipments to China as part of Iran’s "shadow" fleet.

The State Department said the sanctions are part of the "maximum pressure" campaign against Iran and stressed US President Donald Trump is "committed to drive Iran’s illicit oil exports, including to China, to zero." The Trump administration previously sanctioned another independent "teapot" Chinese refinery in March.