The United States on Wednesday issued new sanctions targeting Iran's oil exports, including against a China-based "teapot" oil refinery, as U.S. President Donald Trump's administration seeks to ramp up pressure on Tehran.

Teapot is an industry term for small independent oil refiners.

The U.S. Treasury Department said in a statement the action would increase pressure on Chinese importers of Iranian oil as Trump seeks to restore his "maximum pressure" campaign on Iran, which includes efforts to drive its oil exports down to zero.