The United States on Friday imposed new sanctions on Iran’s Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni and a businessman accused of helping Tehran launder money, as the administration of Donald Trump intensified pressure on the Islamic Republic.
Announcing the measures, the United States Department of the Treasury said Momeni was responsible for overseeing a violent security crackdown earlier this month. The department accused Iranian law enforcement agencies under his authority of killing thousands of peaceful protesters.
The sanctions come amid heightened U.S.-Iran tensions. In recent weeks, Trump has warned of possible intervention over Iran’s handling of nationwide protests and has ordered additional U.S. naval deployments to the Middle East, while also stating that he intends to pursue talks with Tehran.
In addition to Momeni, the Treasury said five other Iranian security officials were sanctioned for their roles in what it described as the violent repression of the Iranian population.
The U.S. also imposed sanctions on investor Babak Zanjani and two digital asset exchanges registered in the United Kingdom. According to the Treasury, the platforms were used to process funds linked to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Washington would continue targeting Iranian elites and their financial networks, accusing them of exploiting digital assets to bypass sanctions and fund cybercrime.
“Like rats on a sinking ship, the regime is frantically moving funds stolen from Iranian families into banks and financial institutions around the world,” Bessent said. “Treasury will continue to act decisively.”
