US Says it Seized $1 Billion in Iranian crypto Amid Intensified Sanctions and Financial Crackdown Push
The US has claimed it has seized nearly $1 billion worth of Iranian cryptocurrency assets, stepping up financial pressure on Tehran. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent confirms the move fits into a wider enforcement push targeting digital wallets, overseas assets, and financial channels linked to Iran.
He made the remarks during a Fox Business interview at the Reagan National Economic Forum, where he outlined expanding sanctions and allied coordination efforts.
Crypto Seizure Claim and Wallet Crackdown
Bessent noted US authorities have taken control of about $1 billion in crypto assets linked to Iranian networks. He described the action as direct intervention in digital wallets holding sanctioned funds and linked it to ongoing monitoring of crypto-based transactions.
‘We have seized about a billion dollars of their crypto. Just outright grabbed the wallets,’ he stated. He added that enforcement tools now focus on tracing digital flows tied to restricted Iranian entities and cutting off access to offshore channels.
Operation Economic Fury and Widening Sanctions Push
Bessent said Operation Economic Fury, launched in March 2025, targets Iran’s banking links, international transactions, and overseas holdings. The effort includes asset freezes, account restrictions, and coordination with European partners on property seizures such as villas and real estate linked to sanctioned money.
He said Iranian financial outflows once reached hundreds of millions of dollars each month before enforcement tightened. The campaign, according to him, has reduced access to global financial systems and limited revenue movement.
Iran Pressure Claims and Gulf Cooperation Shift
He explained Iran faces unpaid salaries for security staff, rising inflation, food voucher distribution, and tighter internet controls under economic stress. Bessent also said Gulf Cooperation Council states have increased cooperation with Washington, sharing more data on Iranian-linked oil and financial activity.
He added that Iran’s internal structure, split between clerical leadership and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, complicates negotiation channels and slows decision-making.
Closing Note
Bessent framed the US strategy as sustained financial containment backed by allied coordination and sanctions enforcement. He indicated that pressure on Iran’s economy will continue through digital asset tracking, banking restrictions, and property seizures, while diplomatic engagement remains fragmented across competing power centers in Tehran.
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