US sanctions Iran financier Khamenei

On July 10, 2026, the United States imposed new sanctions targeting Ali Ansari, a key financier for Iran's leader Mojtaba Khamenei, along with 13 other individuals and entities. The sanctions, announced by the Treasury Department, follow renewed Iranian attacks on oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz. The U.S. Treasury's United States — Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) also targeted Iranian exchange houses and front companies that allegedly moved billions of dollars for sanctioned Iranian banks. The sanctions were announced after a week of conflict where three Qatari and Saudi tankers were attacked by Iran, prompting U.S. strikes on Iranian sites and Iranian retaliation on U.S. military sites in Gulf states. U.S. President Donald Trump declared the ceasefire over but agreed to continue talks. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent vowed to isolate Khamenei from the global financial system. Iran's top negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf vowed all-out defense if the U.S. violates the memorandum of understanding. The sanctions also targeted entities in China — Hong Kong, UAE, and Saint Kitts and Nevis.