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US Sanctions Over 50 Tehran-Linked Entities in New Crackdown

Free News Reader  ·  May 19, 2026

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US Sanctions Over 50 Tehran-Linked Entities in New Crackdown

  • The U.S. Treasury Department sanctioned Iran-based Amin Exchange and a network of front companies for facilitating hundreds of millions of dollars in foreign transactions for sanctioned Iranians.
  • These extensive sanctions, announced on May 19, 2026, also targeted 19 vessels involved in the illicit shipping of Iranian petroleum and petrochemicals.

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On Tuesday, May 19, 2026, the U.S. Treasury Department, operating under the Trump administration’s “Economic Fury” campaign, announced sanctions against over 50 entities, including companies, individuals, and vessels linked to Tehran. These actions aim to dismantle Iran’s “shadow banking system” and “shadow fleet,” which U.S. officials state are used to evade sanctions and fund illicit activities.

Central to these new measures is the designation of Amin Exchange, also known as Ebrahimi and Associates Partnership Company, an Iran-based foreign currency exchange house. The Treasury Department reported that Amin Exchange and its network of front companies, spanning jurisdictions including the United Arab Emirates, Turkey, Hong Kong, and China, have facilitated hundreds of millions of dollars in transactions for sanctioned Iranian banks and petrochemical firms. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated that “Iran’s shadow banking system facilitates the illicit transfer of funding for terrorist purposes.”

In addition to the financial entities, the sanctions targeted 19 vessels identified as part of Iran’s “shadow fleet,” involved in transporting Iranian-origin oil, petroleum products, and petrochemicals to foreign customers. These vessels are flagged in various countries, including Panama, Barbados, and Palau. The Treasury highlighted that Iranian exchange houses collectively enable billions of dollars in foreign currency transactions annually, allowing the regime to bypass global financial restrictions and access revenue from oil sales. The U.S. seeks to intensify pressure on Tehran, particularly amid ongoing tensions in