TEHRAN- For allegedly facilitating oil transactions on behalf of Iran, the United States has levied sanctions on five individuals, including a Turkish businessman, and 26 entities.

The actions were disclosed on Thursday by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) of the U.S. Treasury Department.

It named some of the targets as "Turkish businessman Sitki Ayan and his network of companies" as well as "Ayan's son Bahaddin Ayan, his associate Kasim Oztas, and two other Turkish citizens," Reuters reported, citing the OFAC.

According to the office, "Ayan has formed commercial commitments to export Iranian oil worth hundreds of millions of dollars to customers" in China, the United Arab Emirates, and Europe.

The penalties freeze the targeted persons' and firms' assets in the United States and prohibit Americans from engaging with them.

Under former U.S. President Donald Trump, the U.S. launched a campaign of "maximum pressure" against Iran.

As part of his campaign, Trump pulled the U.S. out of a nuclear deal between Iran and other powers and reinstated all sanctions eased by the agreement.

His successor Joe Biden claimed on the campaign trail that he was interested in getting Washington back into the agreement. However, the Biden administration has not only refrained from doing so but has also been subjecting the Islamic Republic to many rounds of new economic sanctions, which Tehran accuses them of continuing Trump's anti-Iran policies.

The U.S. was unanimously ordered by the International Court of Justice to eliminate all barriers to the entry of food, medications, and medical equipment into Iran in a temporary order that was issued on October 3, 2018. However, the U.S. has also delayed implementing the verdict.