US Imposes Sanctions on Iranian Individuals, Four Cryptocurrency Platforms

WASHINGTON, United States — WASHINGTON — The U.S. Treasury Department announced Tuesday new sanctions targeting four individuals in Iran and four cryptocurrency trading platforms. The platforms named in the action are Nobitex, Bitbinn, Ramzinex and Wallex. The Treasury statement said foreign financial institutions and individuals may also face sanctions if they conduct certain transactions with these companies. Treasury officials alleged that Nobitex helped the Iranian government evade sanctions and provided cover for financial transactions by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, including ransomware activity. The State Department said Nobitex enabled Iran's Central Bank to access millions of dollars and allowed regime-affiliated individuals to use trading platforms. According to the department, Nobitex also facilitated the transfer of Iranian currency abroad during the recent Iran-Israel hostilities. The sanctions target the platform's role in supporting what U.S. officials described as efforts to circumvent economic restrictions on Tehran.