The United States on Wednesday imposed sanctions on entities it accused of being involved in the illicit trade of Iranian petroleum and petrochemicals ahead of a new round of US-Iran negotiations on Saturday,

The United States on Tuesday imposed sanctions on a network based in Iran and China that it accused of procuring ballistic missile propellant ingredients on behalf of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as President Donald Trump's administration seeks to increase pressure on Tehran.

Tehran official’s Beijing trip comes before third round of talks with the US and follows consultations with Russia.