U.S. State Department Vows to Isolate Iran's Financial Lifelines

ERBIL (Kurdistan24) - The US Department of State said on Friday, that Washington remains determined to prevent any financial institution from serving as a lifeline for Iran, framing the latest round of Treasury sanctions as part of a broader campaign to dismantle the regime's revenue streams.

State Department Spokesman Tommy Pigott said in a press statement that the United States remains committed to severing Tehran's access to the international financial system and the resources it uses to destabilize the region and threaten American interests and partners.

"The United States remains committed to cutting off the Iranian regime's access to the international financial system and the resources it uses to destabilize the region and threaten US interests and partners," Pigott said.

He tied the statement to Operation Economic Outcast, a whole-of-government effort to sever the networks that allow Tehran to launder funds, evade sanctions, and finance groups Washington designates as terrorist proxies across the Middle East. According to background reporting, that campaign has recently expanded to target Türkiye-based financial entities, including a portfolio management firm, an asset leasing company, and an investment bank, following an earlier action against an Egyptian lender's branch in the United Arab Emirates.

Pigott said the sanctions send a direct message to banks and financial institutions worldwide.

"This action sends a clear message to financial institutions worldwide: facilitating Iran's illicit financial activity carries serious consequences," Pigott said. "This demonstrates the Trump Administration's commitment to eliminating resources the regime uses to threaten regional stability, support terrorism, and advance its military capabilities."

Pigott said Washington would keep applying diplomatic and economic pressure on Tehran until it changes course, while calling on other nations to join the effort.

"The United States will continue to use every diplomatic and economic tool at its disposal to isolate the Iranian regime until it abandons its support for terrorism and its destabilizing activities in the region," Pigott said. "We urge the international community to join this effort and ensure no institution serves as a financial lifeline for a regime that threatens peace and security."

The State Department said the latest sanctions were issued pursuant to Executive Order 13902, which targets Iran's financial sector, describing Operation Economic Outcast as a campaign to completely isolate the regime from the financial lifelines that sustain what it called its malign behavior.

The State Department's statement reflects a broader push by Washington to intensify economic pressure on Tehran, part of an accelerating pace of sanctions actions targeting banks and financial intermediaries tied to Iran.