The USA hits Iranian sanctions for oil sales for millions in crypts

By Hannah Pérez

More than a dozen people and companies were sanctioned for coordinating cryptocurrency transfers worth USD $ 100 million from the sale of Iranian oil for the benefit of the Government and Iran’s army.

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• US Treasury imposes sanctions for oil transactions linked to the Iranian government.
• Iranian nationals and more than 12 people and entities of EAU and Hong Kong were sanctioned.
• It is said that they coordinated illicit oil sales for more than USD $ 100 million in cryptocurrencies.
• It adds to the recent action of the Israeli government to block 187 crypto wallets linked to IRGC.

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The United States Department of the Treasury imposed new sanctions this week for illicit oil businesses using cryptocurrencies for the benefit of the Government and the Iran Army.

In an official statement from the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), the US authorities announced sanctions against two Iranian financiers and more than a dozen individuals and companies in Hong Kong and the United Arab Emirates (EAU), accused of Coordinate transfers for more than USD $ 100 million in cryptocurrencies from Iranian oil sales.

These operations directly benefited the QODS force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard (IRGC-QF) and the Ministry of Defense and Logistic Support of the Armed Forces (Fashionfl) of Iran, said the treasure in a statement on Tuesday.

US Treasury. SANCES Iranian oil businesses

The action points to the networks of “Shadow bench” Iranians who abuse the international financial system to evade penalties, washing money through foreigner screen and cryptocurrency, the agency continued in its publication.

The funds are used to support proxy terrorist groups in the region and develop advanced weapons systems, such as ballistic missiles and non -manned aerial vehicles (UAV), which threaten the security of US forces and their allies.

“Iranian entities depend on shade banking networks to evade sanctions and move millions through the international financial system”Said Undersecretary of Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, John K. Hurley.

These measures are framed in Executive Order 13224, amended, and represent the second round of sanctions against the banking infrastructure in the shadow of Iran since the issuance of the presidential presidential memorandum of National Security 2 by President Donald Trump, which promotes a campaign of “Maximum pressure” To reduce Iranian oil exports to zero.

“Under the leadership of President Trump, we will continue to interrupt these key financial currents that finance the weapons and malignant activities of Iran in the Middle East and beyond”Hurley added.

Iranians accused of using cryptocurrencies

The main objectives of the US Government are the Iranian nationals, Alireza Derakhshan and Aash Estaki Alivand, who are accused of having coordinated the purchase millions of dollars in cryptocurrencies for sales of government oil.

Between 2023 and 2025, both used a network of frontal companies in multiple jurisdictions to transfer these funds, including links with a Syrian company sanctioned in 2024 for supporting IRGC-QF, and a money changer associated with Hezbollah. American organizations did not specify which cryptocurrencies were used in these transactions.

Derakhshan also maintains communications with a sanctioned citizen and manages daily signatures with headquarters in EAU and Hong Kong that handle hundreds of millions of dollars in illicit transactions for Fashionfl and IRGC, authorities said.

Among the designated entities are Alpa Investment LLC, Unique Station Trading, Minato Commercial Brokers and Alliance First Trading LLCall for attending IRGC-QF or act in their name.

As a result, all goods and interests owned by these designated in the US or under control of American people are blocked, and transactions with them are prohibited, under penalty of civil or criminal fines. In addition, foreign financial institutions that facilitate significant transactions could face secondary sanctions.

Cryptocurrencies and sanctions in response

Certain experts have highlighted the strategic turn that cryptocurrencies represent in these sanctions.

“Iran’s acquisition networks no longer depend only on facade companies and bank transfers”Said Angela Ang, representative for APAC in TRM Labsto Decryptpointing out that cryptocurrencies have become “a parallel channel to move value quickly and discreetly through the borders ”particularly when banks cross suspicious transactions.

Sanction wallet addresses, as well as shipping assets and corporate facades, sends the message that “Digital rails are a growing focus of sanctions”He added, according to coverage.

According to Chainysissanctioned jurisdictions as Iran received $ 15.8 billion in cryptocurrencies in 2024, representing 39% of all illicit transactions.

These measures are produced after the sanctions against linked Iranian tanks and the Israeli decision to block 187 cryptocurrency wallets linked to IRGC. They also coincide with the activation by the governments of France, the United Kingdom and Germany of the “Recooking mechanism”Of the UN, which reimposes sanctions for the Iranian nuclear program, after the failure of negotiations for a new agreement this year, interrupted by Israeli and American bombings in June.

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Article written with the help of AI, edited by Diariobitcoin

Anatoly Maltsev image via Unspash

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