The US took fresh steps to restrict the trade of Iranian oil, keeping up pressure on Iran even as President Donald Trump signaled possible relief after bombing its nuclear facilities.

The U.S. imposed sanctions on Thursday against a network that smuggles Iranian oil disguised as Iraqi oil and on a Hezbollah-controlled financial institution, the Treasury Department said.

The State Department announced Wednesday it would target entities and individuals connected to Iran and Hezbollah with new sanctions. Six entities and four vessels associated with Iran were

The Treasury Department is targeting Iranian networks that allegedly buy and transport billions of dollars worth of Iranian oil in violation of international sanctions.

The United States imposed sanctions against a business network that blended Iranian oil with Iraqi oil to shield it from restrictions. The sanctions are directed at a network of companies run by Iraqi businessman Salim Ahmed Saeed,

The US has imposed a fresh round of sanctions targeting Iranian oil exports, marking the first sanctions on Tehran's energy sector since a Washington-backed ceasefire between Israel and Iran took effect last month.