On Oct. 8, the US Treasury said it had imposed a new round of sanctions on Iran,
designating 17 vessels used to transport Iranian crude, refined oil products and
petrochemicals. Treasury officials said the US estimates about 20 mln barrels of
Iranian crude remain aboard ships outside the scope of US port-blockade
measures. Officials added Iran has halted loading and unloading of crude tankers
because of the US blockade and sanctions. Earlier the same day President Trump
said he was holding productive talks with Iran and would not attack Iran before
the Nov. 3 US midterm elections.
