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US approves new sanctions against Iranian leader's circle over Hormuz attacks
🇵🇾 Paraguay /Conflict & Security

US approves new sanctions against Iranian leader's circle over Hormuz attacks

From ABC Color · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Ongoing story
  • The U.S. announced new sanctions against an Iranian businessman and several exchange houses linked to Iran's supreme leader.
  • Washington claims these entities facilitate financial operations for already sanctioned Iranian banks and enrich regime elites.
  • The sanctions follow Iran's renewed attacks on international shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, despite a previous ceasefire agreement.

The United States has imposed new sanctions targeting individuals and entities it claims are financially supporting Iran's supreme leader and facilitating illicit financial operations. The U.S. Treasury Department announced sanctions against an Iranian businessman, identified as Ali Ansari, and several exchange houses and front companies.

Washington alleges that these entities are crucial financial managers for Mojtaba Jamenei, son of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, and other Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps officials. The Treasury Department stated that Ansari has "institutionalized large-scale embezzlement within the Iranian regime," diverting public funds into an extensive portfolio of overseas assets to enrich himself and regime elites.

Ansari has institutionalized large-scale embezzlement within the Iranian regime, diverting public funds into an extensive portfolio of overseas assets to enrich himself and regime elites.

— U.S. Treasury DepartmentDetailing the alleged financial misconduct of the sanctioned businessman.

"The so-called supreme leader remains hidden and isolated while his regime crumbles," stated Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. The sanctions come in response to Iran's recent attacks on international maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz. The Treasury noted that Ansari previously owned and directed Ayandeh Bank, which allegedly funneled billions of dollars through loans to affiliated companies before its dissolution in October 2025.

Also sanctioned were CDM Trading Limited, based in Hong Kong, and Naba Alzaki Raw Materials Trading LLC, based in the United Arab Emirates, for allegedly acting as shell companies. These measures were announced shortly after U.S. President Trump indicated that negotiations with Iran to end the conflict would continue, despite his declaration that a previously agreed-upon ceasefire had ended. The U.S. and Iran had signed a memorandum of understanding on June 17 to end the war, unlock the Strait of Hormuz, and open negotiations on Iran's nuclear program. However, recent attacks in the Middle East have resulted in at least 14 deaths on Iranian soil.

The so-called supreme leader remains hidden and isolated while his regime crumbles.

— Scott BessentCommenting on the state of the Iranian leadership in relation to the sanctions.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by ABC Color in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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