U.S. Blacklists 18 Linked to Iran Sanctions Breach

The United States has imposed new sanctions on 18 individuals and entities accused of helping Iran circumvent international restrictions and generate revenue for its weapons development programmes.

The US Treasury Department announced the measures on Thursday, naming several key players in the alleged sanctions evasion network.

Among those targeted are RUNC Exchange System Company and its leadership, Cyrus Offshore Bank, and Pasargad Arian Information and Communication Technology, a prominent Iranian software holding company.

According to the Treasury’s statement, these companies and individuals are accused of creating and operating complex financial channels designed to bypass US and international sanctions.

These schemes allegedly enabled Iran to gain access to foreign currency, facilitate illicit trade, and funnel money into its missile and military projects.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the sanctions are part of Washington’s ongoing efforts to block Tehran’s ability to fund prohibited military activities.

“Treasury will continue to disrupt Iran’s schemes aimed at evading our sanctions, block its access to revenue, and starve its weapons programs of capital in order to protect the American people,” Bessent said.

The move reflects the Biden administration’s continued pressure on Iran, particularly over its ballistic missile programme and its alleged supply of weapons to armed groups in the Middle East.

In recent years, US intelligence agencies have accused Tehran of using complex networks of banks, front companies, and cryptocurrency platforms to evade sanctions.

This latest action builds on previous measures targeting Iranian oil smuggling operations and financial institutions linked to Hezbollah.

Potential Impact of the Sanctions
The newly sanctioned entities will have any US-based assets frozen, and US citizens and companies will be prohibited from engaging in transactions with them.

The measures are also expected to discourage foreign companies from doing business with the targeted firms for fear of secondary sanctions.

Analysts say the sanctions could further strain Iran’s already fragile economy, which has been battered by years of restrictions and internal mismanagement.

However, critics argue that sanctions alone are unlikely to change Tehran’s strategic policies without broader diplomatic engagement.

The US has made clear it intends to maintain a “maximum pressure” policy until Iran scales back its weapons programmes and complies with international agreements.

The Treasury emphasised that it will work with allies to dismantle financial networks that help fund Iran’s military ambitions.

Thursday’s announcement follows similar joint actions in recent months by the US, UK, France, and Germany, all aimed at countering what they see as Iran’s destabilising activities across the Middle East and beyond.

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