{"id":29736,"date":"2026-09-15T09:51:56","date_gmt":"2026-09-15T06:51:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ukrmedia.news\/?p=29736"},"modified":"2026-09-15T09:51:56","modified_gmt":"2026-09-15T06:51:56","slug":"sanktsii-ssha-vtb-iran","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ukrmedia.news\/en\/economics\/sanktsii-ssha-vtb-iran\/","title":{"rendered":"The US has imposed new sanctions on VTB over its links with Iran"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"news-lead\">The US Treasury Department has added Russia\u2019s VTB to the sanctions list under the Iran programme, alleging that it had assisted Tehran in circumventing the restrictions. According to Washington, the bank established contacts with sanctioned Iranian institutions, facilitated payments in roubles and rials, and attempted to help move frozen Iranian assets. Foreign banks face secondary sanctions for significant transactions with VTB.<\/p>\n<div class=\"news-summary-box\">\n<p><strong>Briefly about the main points<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>OFAC has imposed the Iranian sanctions regime on VTB.<\/li>\n<li>The US links the bank to Iranian financial institutions subject to sanctions.<\/li>\n<li>VTB facilitated settlements between Russia and Iran in their respective national currencies.<\/li>\n<li>Significant transactions involving VTB may give rise to secondary sanctions risks.<\/li>\n<li>The decision forms part of the US campaign \u2018Operation Economic Outcast\u2019.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<h2>A specific Iranian justification for the restrictions<\/h2>\n<p>The US Treasury Department\u2019s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced its decision on 14 September in accordance with Executive Order 13902. This order enables Washington to impose restrictions on individuals and companies operating in specific sectors of the Iranian economy; the financial sector was designated for such sanctions back in 2020.<\/p>\n<p>The US authorities cited the activities as the grounds <a href=\"https:\/\/ukrmedia.news\/en\/economics\/vtb-aktsii-istorychnyj-minimum\/\">VTB<\/a> in Iran\u2019s financial sector. The bank was already subject to stringent US sanctions imposed following Russia\u2019s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The new decision adds a separate legal basis within the Iranian regime, and VTB\u2019s property and property interests in the US or under the control of US persons are subject to freezing.<\/p>\n<h2>What financial mechanisms have linked VTB to Iran?<\/h2>\n<p>According to the US Treasury Department, over the past three years VTB has established correspondent banking relationships with Iranian financial institutions that were already subject to sanctions. This model involves reciprocal bank accounts and enables payments to be made between them. In January 2025, the bank also began expanding its presence in Tehran.<\/p>\n<p>Washington has stated that VTB opened representative offices in Iran to strengthen financial coordination between Moscow and Tehran and to boost bilateral trade. The bank has set up a settlement system in Russian roubles and Iranian rials, designed to reduce dependence on the Western financial system.<\/p>\n<p>The US agency also claims that VTB took steps to facilitate the transfer of billions of dollars\u2019 worth of frozen Iranian assets.<\/p>\n<h2>Risks for foreign banks and the scope of sanctions<\/h2>\n<p>The US Treasury Department has called on foreign financial institutions to sever ties with VTB and warned that knowingly carrying out significant transactions on behalf of the bank after it has been added to the Iran sanctions list could result in secondary sanctions. Possible measures by OFAC include restrictions on or the loss of access to correspondent or payable-through accounts in the US.<\/p>\n<p>This mechanism does not mean that all VTB transactions worldwide will be automatically blocked. However, the new grounds for sanctions significantly increase compliance risks for the bank\u2019s counterparties in third countries that have links to the US financial system.<\/p>\n<h2>Sanctions as part of the \u2018Economic Outcast\u2019 campaign<\/h2>\n<p>The restrictions form part of Operation Economic Outcast, announced by the US Treasury on 24 August 2026. The stated aim of the campaign is to cut off the financial channels through which, according to Washington\u2019s assessment, Iran generates revenue, circumvents sanctions and supports its overseas networks. Prior to the decision regarding VTB, the US had taken action against financial institutions in the UAE and Turkey.<\/p>\n<p>Minister of Finance <strong>Scott Bessent<\/strong> stated that the United States would continue to identify and isolate entities that provide Iran with financial, material or technological support. This week, the US agency is also holding meetings with global financial institutions, providing them with information to help cut off Iran-related revenue streams and procurement networks.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>VTB has been subject to US sanctions against Iran. OFAC has warned banks in other countries of the risk of losing access to accounts in the US.<\/p>","protected":false},"author":207433346,"featured_media":29735,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rank_math_description":"\u0412\u0422\u0411 \u043f\u043e\u0442\u0440\u0430\u043f\u0438\u0432 \u043f\u0456\u0434 \u0456\u0440\u0430\u043d\u0441\u044c\u043a\u0438\u0439 \u0441\u0430\u043d\u043a\u0446\u0456\u0439\u043d\u0438\u0439 \u0440\u0435\u0436\u0438\u043c \u0421\u0428\u0410. 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