The United States on Friday imposed sanctions on Iran’s interior minister, Eskandar Momeni, and a businessman Washington says helped launder money for Tehran, as the Trump administration escalates pressure on the Islamic Republic.
The measures, announced by the U.S. Department of the Treasury, target Momeni for his role overseeing Iran’s security forces during a violent crackdown on protests earlier this month. Treasury officials said law enforcement units under his authority were responsible for the deaths of thousands of peaceful demonstrators.
In addition to Momeni, the sanctions also apply to five other Iranian security officials accused of taking part in what the Treasury described as the “violent repression of the Iranian people.” The actions mark one of the most sweeping U.S. sanctions packages aimed at Iran’s internal security apparatus in recent years.
President Donald Trump has in recent weeks issued repeated warnings to Tehran over its handling of the protests. While signaling openness to talks with Iran’s government, Trump has also ordered the deployment of U.S. warships to the Middle East, underscoring a more confrontational posture alongside diplomatic pressure.
The Treasury also sanctioned Iranian businessman Babak Zanjani, along with two digital asset exchanges registered in Britain. U.S. officials said the exchanges processed funds connected to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, which Washington has designated as a terrorist organization.
According to the Treasury, Zanjani and associated networks played a role in helping Iranian elites move and conceal money through digital assets, allowing them to bypass existing sanctions. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said such practices would remain a key focus of U.S. enforcement efforts.
“Like rats on a sinking ship, the regime is frantically wiring funds stolen from Iranian families to banks and financial institutions around the world,” Bessent said in a statement, adding that the Treasury would continue to act against those enabling sanctions evasion and cybercriminal activity.
The latest measures reflect a broader U.S. strategy of targeting not only Iran’s political leadership, but also the financial and technological networks that support it, particularly as digital currencies become a more prominent tool for bypassing traditional banking restrictions.