U.S. Sanctions Iran Central Bank Governor for Alleged Terrorist Support
Source: Bloomberg News
By Saleha Mohsin
May 15, 2018, 10:50 AM EDT Updated on May 15, 2018, 12:06 PM EDT
* Action follows Trump announcement of new sanctions on Iran
* Treasury sanctioned nine Iranians and companies last week
The U.S. Treasury Department imposed sanctions Tuesday on Irans central bank governor and another senior official in the bank for allegedly providing support for terrorist activities.
Treasury named Valiollah Seif, Irans central bank governor, and Ali Tarzali, the assistant director of the international department at the central bank of Iran, as specially designated global terrorists for allegedly assisting Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps-Quds Force to support Hezbollah. The U.S. accused Seif of playing a role in funneling millions of dollars on behalf of the Quds Force to support Hezbollah.
It is appalling, but not surprising, that Irans senior-most banking official would conspire with the IRGC-QF to facilitate funding of terror groups like Hizballah, and it undermines any credibility he could claim in protecting the integrity of the institution as a central bank governor, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said in a statement. The United States will not permit Irans increasingly brazen abuse of the international financial system.
The new sanctions cut off Irans access to a critical banking network, the Treasury Department said in a statement, adding that it seeks to stifle Irans ability to abuse the U.S. and regional financial system.
Read more:
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-05-15/u-s-sanctions-iran-central-bank-s-governor-and-another-official