|
Trending Topics
|
U.S. Raises Pressure on Iran with Sanctions on Currency Exchange
(Wall Street Journal) Ian Talley - The U.S. took a step toward cutting Iran off from the global economy on Thursday, levying sanctions on a financing network and accusing the country's central bank of helping funnel U.S. dollars to the blacklisted Quds Force. Acting jointly with the United Arab Emirates, the U.S. Treasury Department imposed sanctions on several Iranian companies, individuals and officials it said are operating an illegal currency-exchange network in the UAE. Iran's central bank wasn't formally sanctioned in Thursday's actions, but will be in the coming months. U.S. officials insist that the objective isn't to collapse the Iranian economy but rather to drive Iran to the negotiating table to discuss a broad new pact that permanently restricts Iran's nuclear program, stymies its ballistic-missile efforts, and curbs Tehran's support for militants fighting across the region.