On February 6, 2026, the United States announced new sanctions targeting Iran's oil exports, including 14 vessels, shortly after indirect talks with Iran concluded in Oman. According to Geo World, the sanctions are part of the US's 'maximum pressure campaign' aimed at reducing Iran's oil revenue, which is allegedly used to 'fund destabilising activities around the world and step up its repression inside Iran.' The State Department also imposed sanctions on 15 entities and two individuals, with a focus on blocking transactions involving ships flagged from Turkey, India, and the UAE. This move comes in the wake of heightened tensions between the US and Iran, exacerbated by recent military threats from President Trump, as reported by The Guardian.