US Sanctions 35 Iran-Linked Individuals and Entities
In a statement issued Tuesday local time, the US Treasury said the measures are aimed at what it described as Iran’s “shadow banking system,” which it claims has enabled the transfer of tens of billions of dollars to circumvent sanctions.
The Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) also alleged that these financial networks have allowed Iranian military institutions access to the international financial system, while facilitating oil sales, procurement of sensitive components, and fund transfers to what Washington describes as Iran’s regional allies.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated, amid parallel signals from the White House suggesting openness to talks with Tehran, that “Iran’s shadow banking system serves as a critical financial lifeline for its armed forces.” He warned that any financial institution engaging with these networks would face “severe consequences.”
The latest sanctions round highlights what analysts describe as a continued contradiction in US policy, where pressure measures are imposed while diplomatic engagement is simultaneously referenced.
Observers note that the intensification of sanctions alongside renewed calls for negotiations appears increasingly inconsistent, potentially deepening mistrust and complicating prospects for meaningful dialogue between Washington and Tehran.
