Washington: The United States has imposed a fresh round of sanctions on Iran following renewed attacks on commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, according to the US Treasury Department.
The sanctions target several individuals and entities, including Dubai-based Iranian banker and businessman Ali Ansari, who has already been sanctioned by the United Kingdom for allegedly providing financial support to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
According to the US Treasury, Ansari is a key financier for Iran’s current leadership and is accused of building a vast overseas business and real estate empire using misappropriated public funds. The department alleges that the network was used to benefit himself, influential figures within the Iranian government and the IRGC.
The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has also sanctioned several Iranian exchange houses accused of processing billions of dollars in transactions on behalf of sanctioned Iranian banks. US authorities allege these institutions used a complex network of shell companies to conceal illicit financial activities and evade international sanctions.
The latest sanctions come after heightened tensions in the Gulf following a series of attacks on commercial shipping. According to the US, Iran recently targeted commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, prompting Washington to expand economic pressure on Tehran.
The announcement follows a week of military escalation in the region. Reports said Iran allegedly opened fire on commercial tankers linked to Qatar and Saudi Arabia, after which the United States carried out strikes on Iranian targets. Iran later responded by targeting US military installations in Gulf countries, further escalating tensions between the two nations.
