US poised to announce fresh Iran bank sanctions this week

The United States is expected to announce new sanctions against Iranian banks and commercial entities this week as part of its ongoing campaign to counter Tehran's financial networks, a top American official said on Tuesday.

The proposed measures would target not only financial institutions but also companies across various sectors that facilitate transactions with Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, according to the announcement. Potential targets could include airline leasing companies and other businesses engaged in commerce with the IRGC, which the US designates as a terrorist organization.

"It could be anyone who does business with the IRGC," the official stated, emphasizing the breadth of the enforcement action. "We are tracking down the IRGC's assets" across multiple jurisdictions and economic sectors.

The move represents an escalation of US pressure on Iran's economy, particularly the military-linked entities that control significant portions of the country's commercial activity. The new sanctions are expected to complicate Iran's ability to access international financial systems and conduct cross-border transactions.

The announcement comes amid broader US efforts to restrict Iran's access to global markets and constrain funding for activities Washington deems destabilizing in the Middle East and South Asia regions.