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U.S. Sanctions Iranian Security Chiefs and ‘Parallel Banking’ Network as White House Cites Pause in Executions

The White House reports a pause of roughly 800 planned executions after U.S. warnings, with verification still pending.

Overview

  • The Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control announced new sanctions on figures it says directed the crackdown on protesters, including Ali Larijani, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council.
  • U.S. officials cited accounts of Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps members assaulting wounded protesters inside a hospital in Ilam province as part of the justification for the designations.
  • OFAC also targeted 18 people and entities linked to clandestine “parallel banking” tied to sanctioned Bank Melli and Shahr Bank that allegedly launder oil and petrochemical revenues.
  • The Treasury said these funds are diverted from the Iranian public to finance domestic repression and support for terrorist groups abroad.
  • White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said Iran suspended about 800 executions after President Trump warned of serious consequences, while Trump also claimed credit for halting Erfan Soltani’s execution, a point that remains unverified and disputed.