US imposes new sanctions on Iran, IRGC-linked entities following attacks in Strait of Hormuz

The United States Treasury Department has announced new sanctions targeting individuals and entities connected to Iran, citing their involvement in illicit financial activities and support for the Iranian regime. Among those sanctioned is Ali Ansari, described as a financier for Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, who is accused of institutionalizing large-scale embezzlement and diverting public health funds to benefit Iranian elites and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

Ansari, based in Dubai, allegedly invested regime funds in holdings across the United Arab Emirates, Europe, and other non-sanctioned nations. The sanctions also hit three Iranian shadow exchange houses, along with seven individuals and two front companies in Hong Kong and the UAE. These entities are accused of using shell companies to move billions of dollars annually on behalf of Iran's sanctioned banks.

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The so-called Supreme Leader is hiding in seclusion while his regime crumbles. Treasury will continue using every tool at its disposal to isolate him and other regime elites from the global financial system.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated that the US will continue to "isolate him [the Supreme Leader] and other regime elites from the global financial system" and "preserve these assets for the Iranian people." These actions come after the US revoked a general license for Iranian oil sales, a response to what the Treasury called "wholly unacceptable" strikes on commercial tankers in the Strait of Hormuz, which involved Iranian drones and missiles. The sanctions require any US-based involvement in the targeted companies to be reported to the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC).

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We will preserve these assets for the Iranian people.