US Imposes New Iran-Related Sanctions as Treasury Signals Gradual Easing of Restrictions

29/05/2026

US Imposes New Iran-Related Sanctions as Treasury Signals Gradual Easing of Restrictions

WASHINGTON, May 29: The United States on Friday announced a new round of Iran-related counter-terrorism sanctions targeting several Iranian individuals and entities, according to a notice published by the US Treasury Department.

The latest measures come amid ongoing discussions between Washington and Tehran over a potential understanding aimed at easing tensions and addressing broader regional issues.

The U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), in coordination with the Department of Commerce and the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office, on Friday designated an Iran-based procurement network under the “Economic Fury” campaign, accusing it of impersonating American small businesses to illegally acquire restricted goods for Iran’s Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics (MODAFL).

According to the Treasury, Iranian national Ali Majd Sepehr, operating through Sorena Hushmand Samaneh Company (Sorena), allegedly established fake U.S. business identities to deceive dozens of American IT firms, resellers, and vendors, resulting in the fraudulent acquisition of millions of dollars’ worth of equipment. The network is said to have procured sensitive items, including network security systems, encryption hardware and software, spectrum analyzers, and non-linear junction detectors for MODAFL-linked entities such as Sairan Information Exchange Space Security Industries Company (SAAFTA).

The statement further alleges that Sepehr worked in coordination with fellow Iranian national Mohammadali Mansour Darehshiri, who allegedly used Dubai-based companies—Green Light Computer Co LLC and Al Kawther Neon LLC—as front entities to receive and re-export U.S.-origin technology through the United Arab Emirates to Iran.

Italy-based Saied Zahedi is also accused of using a U.S. financial account to register deceptive domains and facilitate payments to freight forwarders involved in the scheme.

In addition, the Treasury designated Sorena’s chairperson Roudabeh Sarmadi, along with several company officials and sales managers, including Manoochehr Zandian, Hoda Baradaran Bagheri, Farzaneh Rezaei, and Seyyed Payam Akhtarian.

The U.S. government also announced that the Rewards for Justice program is offering up to $15 million for information that helps disrupt financial networks linked to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

Separately, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said any rollback of US financial and economic restrictions on Iran would be gradual rather than immediate.

“We’ll see ... anything that’s taken off is taken off slowly,” Bessent said, indicating that any sanctions relief would be implemented in stages and remain subject to US policy considerations.

Bessent also disclosed that the United States has seized approximately $1 billion in Iranian cryptocurrency assets. He did not provide additional details regarding the assets, the timing of the seizure, or the legal basis for the action.

The announcements underscore Washington’s continued pressure on Iran even as reports suggest diplomatic contacts between the two countries remain ongoing.