The U.S. on Thursday issued new Iran-related sanctions, targeting entities including for the first time a Chinese "teapot," or independent refinery, and vessels that supplied crude oil to such processing plants.

Federal officials have sanctioned a Chinese oil refinery, as well as an oil storage facility and their owners to cut off Iranian revenues from illicit oil sales that violate international sanctions.

The United States has imposed sanctions on the Chinese company Shandong Shouguang Luqing Petrochemical for purchasing Iranian oil, thereby violating American restrictions. This marks the first such action against China,