On June 30, 2020, the Mississippi Department of Finance & Administration identified Kuo Oil as a company “engaged in investment activities in Iran, providing funds, goods or services valued at $20,000,000 or more in the energy sector of Iran.” (https://www.dfa.ms.gov/media/10012/businesses-doing-business-with-iran-12.docx)
"Iran's fuel oil exports fell nearly 50 percent from May to June, according to industry sources, adding to declines earlier this year and to the strain on Tehran's finances as sanctions have hit its oil trade…Western sanctions do not specifically ban the purchase of Iran's fuel oil but instead target the financing and shipping insurance needed to buy and transport Iranian cargoes, creating difficulties for would-be customers that effectively have slashed trade with Iran.
"Some firms on the list already are the targets of federal sanctions. They include the state-run Petroleos de Venezuela, the Belorussian firm Belarusneft, China's Zhuhai Zhenrong Co., Singapore's FAL Oil Co. and Kuo Oil, and Switzerland-based Naftiran. Others, including Angola's Sonangol, reportedly have pulled out of Iran in response to international sanctions." (The Baltimore Sun, "22 companies are listed for alleged Iran ties, sanctions," 9/17/2012) (http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/bs-bz-iran-companies-20120913,0,3088368.story)
In 2017 the U.S. state of Mississippi listed Kou as an Iran restricted company rendering Kou ineligible for investment and/or state contracting. (http://www.dfa.ms.gov/media/4100/companies-posted.pdf)
The United States has blacklisted some companies due to their business links with Iran, including United Arab Emirates-based Fal Oil and Singapore's Kuo-Oil, once lifters of Iranian fuel oil." (Reuters, "Iran fuel oil exports plummet in June-industry data," 7/12/12) (http://in.reuters.com/article/2012/07/12/iran-fueloil-exports-idINL6E8IC8M120120712)
"The US state department announced late on Thursday that penalties would be imposed on China’s Zhuhai Zhenrong, the Singapore-based oil trader Kuo Oil, and the United Arab Emirates-based independent oil trader FAL." (Financial Times, "US sanctions Chinese oil trader," 1/13/2012) (http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/8af32ca8-3d96-11e1-8129-00144feabdc0.html#axzz1jj8jLmIT)