US imposed sanctions

Washington (dpa) — The United States has imposed sanctions on Russia’s second-largest bank, VTB, as part of its intensified economic pressure on Iran.

“The U.S. sanctioned VTB Bank for helping Iran evade sanctions and finance terrorism – opening offices in Iran, building ties with sanctioned Iranian banks, and moving billions in Iranian assets,” State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott said on Monday, explaining the move on X.

The Russian bank is alleged to have opened branches in Iran, maintained links with sanctioned Iranian banks and transferred Iranian assets worth billions.

VTB (Vneshtorgbank) is Russia’s second-largest bank after Sberbank. Founded in 1990, the foreign trade bank is majority-owned by the Russian state.

As a result of the US measures, all of VTB’s assets in the US will be frozen and transactions with the sanctioned companies will be prohibited.

US imposed sanctions

Earlier this month, the US sanctioned the Turkish Golden Global Bank, as it is alleged to have facilitated transactions worth several million dollars for Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). As with VTB, all assets in the US have been frozen and transactions with Golden Global Bank have been banned.

US President Donald Trump had previously announced his intention to put pressure on Iran through an “economic war.”

Last week, the US also implemented measures against organizations and individuals supporting the Kataib Hezbollah militia and the Lebanese Hezbollah.

According to Washington, the organizations are based in Iraq, Lebanon, the United Arab Emirates and Turkey.

The United States had also previously sanctioned several major Iranian airlines, adding 27 carriers to its sanctions list, including Kish Airlines, Iran Air Tour and ATA Airlines.