The U.S. Department of the Treasury added 35 individuals and companies to a sanctions list for facilitating Iran’s shadow finance network [1].

These measures target the financial infrastructure used to move money for illegal oil sales and weapons purchases. By disrupting these channels, the U.S. aims to curb the funding that sustains Tehran's regional activities and security operations.

Treasury Secretary Scott Benton said the illicit funds support Iran’s terrorist activities and pose a direct threat to the United States, its allies, and the global economy [1]. The shadow-finance network operates through overseas ghost companies to obscure the origin and destination of funds [1].

This action is part of a broader strategy to dismantle the financial conduits that allow Iran to bypass international restrictions. The Treasury Department identified these 35 targets as critical nodes in the movement of capital used for prohibited procurement [1].

In response to the escalating tensions, Iranian military spokesperson Mohammad Akrami Nia said the military is making serious efforts to update targets and refresh information on strike objectives [1].

U.S. officials maintain that the network’s ability to move money for weapons is a primary driver of instability in the region. The sanctions are designed to freeze assets and prohibit U.S. persons from engaging in transactions with the listed entities [1].

“The U.S. Department of the Treasury added 35 individuals and companies to a sanctions list”

The targeting of 'ghost companies' indicates a shift toward attacking the administrative layer of Iran's economy rather than just the state's central bank. By dismantling the intermediaries that facilitate oil sales, the U.S. is attempting to create a financial blockade that restricts Tehran's ability to fund proxy groups and weapons programs without relying solely on traditional diplomatic pressure.