US Targets Hamas, Iran in Sweeping New Sanctions Blitz
Treasury sanctions flotilla operatives, Hamas-linked networks, an Iranian exchange house, and 19 vessels tied to illicit oil trade
Photo: US Central Command (CENTCOM)
The U.S. Department of the Treasury has announced two coordinated sanctions actions targeting Hamas-linked international networks and Iran’s financial and oil evasion infrastructure, expanding Washington’s broader counterterrorism and sanctions enforcement campaign.
In the first package, the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) imposed sanctions on individuals linked to a pro-Hamas flotilla initiative and affiliated organizations tied to Hamas and allied Palestinian networks operating abroad. The Treasury said the measures are aimed at disrupting attempts to use maritime activism as cover for fundraising and influence operations on behalf of designated terrorist organizations.
“The pro-terror flotilla attempting to reach Gaza is a ludicrous attempt to undermine President Trump’s successful progress toward lasting peace in the region,” said U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, adding that the department will continue targeting Hamas financial networks globally.
According to Treasury, the designated entities are linked to the Popular Conference for Palestinians Abroad (PCPA) and Samidoun, which U.S. officials describe as part of a broader ecosystem connected to Hamas and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP). The action includes individuals based in Jordan, Spain, Belgium, and Madrid who are accused of coordinating flotilla activity, political messaging, and organizational support.
Sanctioning Iran’s financial systems
Separately, Treasury launched a major sanctions package against Iran’s financial and energy evasion systems under its “Economic Fury” campaign. The measures target a prominent Iranian foreign currency exchange house, Amin Exchange, along with its ownership network and front companies operating across the United Arab Emirates, Turkey, and Hong Kong.
The Treasury Department alleges that Amin Exchange facilitated hundreds of millions of dollars in transactions for sanctioned Iranian banks and petrochemical firms, enabling Tehran to bypass restrictions and access global financial markets.
OFAC also designated 19 vessels involved in transporting Iranian petroleum and petrochemical products, which Washington says generated significant revenue for the Iranian government and supported its military and proxy networks.
Officials said the Iran-related actions are part of an intensified effort to dismantle what they describe as Tehran’s “shadow banking system” and illicit maritime trade routes. The administration warned that foreign financial institutions and shipping companies engaging with designated entities could face secondary sanctions.
Treasury emphasized that both sets of actions are intended to cut off financial lifelines to groups and states it considers destabilizing, while reinforcing global compliance expectations for banks, nonprofits, and maritime operators operating in high-risk environments.