«We are monitoring the money that Tehran is trying to desperately move out of the country and targeting all financial lifelines linked to the regime,» said US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on X.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced on X that the US government was freezing $344 million worth of cryptocurrencies held on “various wallets linked to Iran”, as Washington seeks to increase pressure on Tehran. “We are monitoring the money that Tehran is trying to desperately move out of the country and targeting all financial lifelines linked to the regime,” reassured Scott Bessent in his message. The stated goal is to systematically “degrade Tehran’s ability to generate, move, and repatriate funds,” he added.
Washington is seeking to increase pressure on Iran to lift the blockade imposed on maritime traffic passing through the Strait of Hormuz. Tehran decided to close this strategic waterway, through which about 20% of the world’s hydrocarbons pass, in retaliation for hostilities triggered by the attacks carried out by the US and Israel on the country on February 28, leading the region into a new conflict.
Washington and Tehran have agreed to implement a ceasefire to give negotiations a chance, with the first round yielding no results. US President Donald Trump unilaterally decided to extend the ceasefire indefinitely. Scott Bessent’s announcement comes as White House special envoy Steve Witkoff and the president’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, are set to travel to Islamabad (Pakistan) on Saturday to meet with an Iranian delegation for a new round of negotiations.
