US freezes $130 million in Iran-linked Crypto assets amid escalating tensions
The United States has imposed fresh sanctions targeting cryptocurrency wallets allegedly linked to the Central Bank of Iran, freezing digital assets worth more than $130 million, according to a statement issued by the US Department of the Treasury.
The Treasury Department said the sanctions are part of broader efforts to disrupt Iran's alleged illicit financial networks and restrict access to funds believed to support activities in violation of US sanctions.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the latest measures are intended to prevent the Iranian government from accessing what Washington describes as illegal sources of revenue. He added that the United States remains committed to countering Iran's financial activities through targeted sanctions.
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The announcement comes as military tensions between the two countries continue to escalate. Reports indicate that US forces carried out a fourth consecutive day of air and naval strikes targeting Iranian military infrastructure, including missile and drone facilities, as well as strategic sites near the Strait of Hormuz and coastal regions.
Iranian media reported explosions and military activity near Bandar Abbas, Kish Island, Qeshm, Hajjiabad, Chabahar, Bampur, and Sirik in Hormozgan Province. There were also reports of clashes and exchanges of fire near the Strait of Hormuz.
According to the US Central Command (CENTCOM), the seven-hour operation involved fighter aircraft, drones, and naval assets that struck multiple military targets.
Meanwhile, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed it launched retaliatory missile and drone attacks against US military installations, including Sheikh Isa Air Base in Bahrain, Ali Al Salem Air Base in Kuwait, and facilities near Al Azraq in Jordan. Independent verification of these claims was not immediately available.
