← Published

meta_id 3504328

pc nid 95254 Sep 17, 2026 pdonofrio@vixio.com US Track 2 U.S. Department of the Treasury horizon scanning
40% of draft length draft in Generated

Generated

2190 chars

U.S. Department of the Treasury Designates Iranian Digital Asset Exchange and Associates Under Operation Economic Outcast

On September 17, 2026, the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated BitBank, a digital assets exchange controlled by OFAC-designated Iranian financier Babak Zanjani, as part of Operation Economic Outcast, the Trump Administration's economic campaign against Iran and its enablers. OFAC also designated BitBank's developer, Pishtaz Simorgh Electronic Trade Company, and three associates of Zanjani: Hossein Ali Zaker Hossein, Mohammad Mahdi Zaker Hossein, and Seyed Adel Heidari. The designations target key components of Iran's digital assets-based sanctions evasion infrastructure. Since June 2026, OFAC-designated Hormuz Safe Marine Services Authority used BitBank to transfer payments to the Iranian regime. Between June and July 2026, Zanjani utilised BitBank to facilitate the transfer of hundreds of millions of dollars in Bitcoin to the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC). The action targets the architecture Zanjani built to launder funds and transfer money to the IRGC through digital asset platforms and supporting developers. The designations are taken pursuant to Executive Order 13902, which targets Iran's digital asset sector as part of Operation Economic Outcast, announced on August 24, 2026 as "Economic D-Day." Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said: "If you support the Iranian regime, the Department of the Treasury will sanction you." As a result of the designations, all property and interests in property of the designated persons in the United States or in the possession or control of U.S. persons are blocked and must be reported to OFAC. U.S. persons are generally prohibited from engaging in transactions involving designated or blocked persons unless authorised by OFAC licence. Violations may result in civil or criminal penalties. Non-U.S. persons are also prohibited from causing or conspiring to cause U.S. persons to violate sanctions. Individuals providing information about sanctions violations to the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network's whistleblower incentive program may be eligible for awards if the information leads to enforcement actions resulting in monetary penalties exceeding $1,000,000.

Agent draft

$0.05 · 13.7s · 2006 chars

US Office of Foreign Assets Control Designates Iranian Digital Asset Exchange BitBank and Associated Entities

On September 17, 2026, the US Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated BitBank, a digital asset exchange controlled by previously designated Iranian financier Babak Zanjani, along with its developer Pishtaz Simorgh Electronic Trade Company and three associates of Zanjani. The action forms part of Operation Economic Outcast, the Trump administration's comprehensive economic campaign against Iran and its enablers. BitBank operates as an Iranian digital assets exchange through which Zanjani has facilitated sanctions evasion and money laundering. Between June and July 2026, Zanjani utilised BitBank to transfer hundreds of millions of dollars in Bitcoin to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Since at least 2024, Zanjani has publicly advertised BitBank's services on social media accounts, and the platform has been listed as a partner by multiple entities within Zanjani's sanctions evasion network. Additionally, since June 2026, OFAC-designated Hormuz Safe Marine Services Authority has used BitBank to transfer payments to the Iranian regime. The three designated individuals—Hossein Ali Zaker Hossein, Mohammad Mahdi Zaker Hossein, and Seyed Adel Heidari—serve as key executives and lieutenants within Zanjani's digital asset sanctions evasion infrastructure. Hossein Ali Zaker Hossein has been involved in the majority of Zanjani's sanctions evasion activities, including oil exports and digital asset transfers to the IRGC. Mohammad Mahdi Zaker Hossein serves as CEO of Pishtaz Simorgh, while Seyed Adel Heidari is Vice Chairman of Dot One's board. OFAC issued these designations pursuant to Executive Order 13902, which targets Iran's digital asset sector. All property and interests in property of the designated persons located in the United States or under US control are blocked. US persons and entities are generally prohibited from engaging in transactions with these targets unless expressly authorised by OFAC. Violations may result in civil or criminal penalties.
3 tool calls
  1. fetch https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/sb0632/ http · 9127 chars · 40 links
  2. search "OFAC sanctions Iran digital assets designations Treasury" → nids 92924, 92336, 93939, 94730, 92278
  3. search "OFAC Babak Zanjani Dot One digital assets Bitcoin IRGC Operation Economic Outcast" → nids 94242, 94865, 94730, 92924, 92476

Published

883 chars

US Office of Foreign Assets Control Designates Iranian Digital Asset Exchange

On September 17, 2026, the US Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated BitBank, a digital assets exchange controlled by OFAC-designated Iranian financier Babak Zanjani, as part of the US Department of the Treasury's broader "Operation Economic Outcast" campaign, and pursuant to Executive Order 13902 . OFAC also designated BitBank's developer, Pishtaz Simorgh Electronic Trade Company, and three associates of Zanjani: Hossein Ali Zaker Hossein, Mohammad Mahdi Zaker Hossein and Seyed Adel Heidari. According to a news release , the designations target key components of Iran's digital assets-based sanctions evasion infrastructure. As a result of the new designations, all US-based property and interests of these targets are blocked, and US individuals and entities are generally prohibited from engaging in transactions with them, unless expressly authorized by OFAC.