The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control sanctioned two digital asset exchanges, their operator and related companies for facilitating Iranian sanctions evasion and financial activity benefiting the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. The action covers Shelbit Exchange, Aban Tether, Siavash Kayvanpour and companies in Georgia, Poland and the United Arab Emirates associated with Kayvanpour and Shelbit. IRGC-linked addresses transferred more than USD 1 million to Shelbit Exchange addresses and received more than USD 2 million from them, while Kayvanpour-controlled addresses sent over USD 2 million to sanctioned Iranian exchange Nobitex. Shelbit also laundered tens of millions of dollars in digital assets for a Persian-language online gambling network. Aban Tether was designated for operating in Iran’s financial sector after processing millions of dollars in transactions involving previously sanctioned Iranian exchanges. Property and interests in property of the designated persons within U.S. jurisdiction are blocked and must be reported to OFAC. Entities owned 50% or more by blocked persons are also blocked, and U.S. persons generally may not conduct transactions involving them without authorization or an exemption. Financial institutions and other parties, including non-U.S. persons, may face sanctions exposure for certain dealings with the designated persons or for causing violations or evading U.S. sanctions.
U.S. Department of the Treasury2026-08-07
U.S. Department of the Treasury sanctions two digital asset exchanges and corporate network over Iran-linked money laundering and sanctions evasion
The U.S. Department of the Treasury sanctioned two digital asset exchanges, their operator and related companies for supporting Iranian sanctions evasion and financial activity benefiting the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. The designations block their property within U.S. jurisdiction and create sanctions risks for U.S. and foreign parties engaging in covered transactions.