The United States Treasury Department recently announced a fresh series of punitive measures aimed at high-ranking Iranian officials and associated financial entities as part of efforts to address the regime’s harsh response to widespread protests and ongoing attempts to circumvent international sanctions.
On a public update shared across social platforms, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent emphasized that these sanctions were enacted under the directive of President Donald Trump. The department specifically targeted individuals deemed responsible for oppressive actions against Iranian citizens, including senior members of the security forces and influential banking networks.
The sanctions, enforced via a combination of executive orders, affected eighteen individuals and organizations in total. Among those targeted are prominent officials within Iran’s security establishment and financial institutions, notably Bank Melli and Shahr Bank, which have been implicated in laundering revenues generated from Iranian oil exports.
Secretary Bessent, addressing the Iranian populace through a video message, underscored the country's escalating economic crisis. He communicated on behalf of Iranians unable to voice dissent themselves, stating: “The central bank is broke and printing money. Hyperinflation is next.” This highlights the pairing of political repression with severe economic stress within the country.
The Treasury’s press release elaborated on those sanctioned, including Ali Larijani, the Secretary of the Supreme Council for National Security, who has publicly advocated for security forces to deploy violent measures against peaceful demonstrators. The sanctions also extend to regional leaders within the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and Iranian Law Enforcement Forces, entities reportedly responsible for shootings at protesters, hospital raids, and coercive enforcement actions.
Bessent delivered a direct admonishment to the upper echelons of the Iranian leadership, likening their behavior to “rats on a sinking ship” who are hastily remitting stolen funds internationally. He asserted a firm commitment from the US Treasury to monitor and track these illicit financial maneuvers, ensuring accountability despite efforts to conceal such transfers among global banking institutions.
This development emerges shortly after President Trump warned nations continuing economic interactions with Iran of potential 25% tariffs. These sanctions come amidst sustained anti-government protests that have gripped the nation.
Energy sector data provides context against this backdrop. The US Energy Information Administration estimated that Iran's combined crude oil and natural gas production averaged 4.70 million barrels per day in September 2025, representing about 4.4% of the global output.
Despite the imposition of comprehensive sanctions, global energy markets have remained relatively stable. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil futures for February delivery were down marginally by 0.19%, trading near $59.10 per barrel during Thursday evening sessions. Similarly, Brent crude futures for March declined by 0.22%, settling around $63.63 per barrel. Conversely, February natural gas futures experienced a modest increase of 0.89%, reaching $3.170 per million British thermal units.
The United States Oil Fund LP (NYSE:USO), which primarily invests in futures contracts for light, sweet crude oil, observed a daily decline of 2.04%, closing at $71.20, with a slight overnight gain of 0.20%. Although it presents a weak Momentum score in recent market rankings, its price trends remain favorably positioned across short, medium, and long-term frames.
These movements reflect the complex interplay between geopolitical risk factors and commodity market dynamics, underscoring the nuanced effect of sanctions and political instability on global energy supply and trading behavior.