US Takes Aim at Iran's Secret Oil Ships

The US has taken a stand against Iran's hidden oil ships. They've put sanctions on nine ships and eight companies. These ships and companies are based in India, Oman, and the UAE. They've been moving Iranian oil worth millions of dollars to other countries. The US Treasury says these ships help Iran make money. This money is used to control its own people. The Treasury Secretary said they will keep an eye on the money Iran is trying to move out of the country.Many people have been killed in Iran recently. Rights groups say this is the biggest crackdown since the 1979 revolution. The US has been talking tough about Iran, but protests there have calmed down. These secret oil ships are old and not well-known. They don't have the right insurance to meet international standards. This makes it hard for them to dock at many ports. The US is trying to put pressure on Iran. They want to stop the violence against protesters. But it's not clear if these sanctions will make a big difference.