The United States has announced new sanctions against an Iranian businessman accused of helping finance networks linked to Iran’s leadership and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
The US Treasury Department said the sanctions target Ali Ansari, an Iranian banker and businessman based in Dubai, along with 13 other individuals and entities.
Ansari was previously sanctioned by Britain over allegations that he supported financial activities connected to the IRGC and other Iranian organizations.
According to the Treasury Department, Ansari used publicly funded resources to build a large overseas business and real estate portfolio that benefited himself.
The US also imposed sanctions on three Iran based exchange houses and foreign companies accused of helping transfer billions of dollars for sanctioned Iranian banks. Officials said these networks used multiple shell companies to hide financial activities linked to Iran’s government.
“The United States is taking action to cut off the financial networks supporting Iran’s ruling elite,” State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott said.
The announcement came after a week of rising tensions between Washington and Tehran, including attacks on commercial oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz and military strikes involving the US and Iran.
US President Donald Trump said a ceasefire agreement with Iran had ended but added that talks could continue at Tehran’s request.
Meanwhile, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Washington would continue using financial measures to pressure Iran top officials and restrict their access to the global banking system.
Iran has so far kept its word, unlike the so-called U.S. Treasury Secretary who is violating Para 9 of the MoU.
That violation follows other violations and missteps by the United States.
Reality check: There can only be mutual compliance.
— Seyed Abbas Araghchi (@araghchi) July 11, 2026
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi criticized the sanctions, saying they violated a previous agreement between the two countries. He said Iran had followed its commitments and warned that future cooperation depended on both sides respecting the agreement.
The Treasury Department also accused Ansari of using off-shore companies and accounts across several countries to control millions of dollars in assets.
Officials said some of these financial interests were linked to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei family and other powerful figures.
The latest sanctions are part of Washington broader effort to increase economic pressure on Iran by targeting financial networks that support the country leadership and military linked organizations
