Thursday May 15, 2025 |
The United States Treasury Department announced fresh sanctions on Thursday targeting four individuals accused of funnelling funds to Hezbollah, the Iranian-backed militant group.
The move underscores Washington’s continued efforts to disrupt financial networks that support terrorist activities, even as diplomatic talks with Iran gain momentum.
According to a statement released by the Treasury, the individuals — two senior Hezbollah officials and two financial facilitators — are based in Lebanon and Iran. They allegedly played key roles in coordinating the transfer of overseas donations, which form a substantial part of Hezbollah’s operating budget.
“These sanctions demonstrate Hezbollah’s extensive global reach through its network of terrorist donors and supporters, particularly in Tehran,” said Deputy Secretary of the Treasury Michael Faulkender. “As part of our ongoing efforts to address Iran’s support for terrorism, Treasury will continue to intensify economic pressure on the key individuals in the Iranian regime and its proxies who enable these deadly activities.”
The action reflects a broader strategy by the US government to choke off the financial lifelines of organisations it deems a threat to regional and global security.
The announcement came on the same day President Donald Trump claimed that the United States was nearing a breakthrough in nuclear negotiations with Iran. In his remarks, Trump suggested that Tehran had “sort of” agreed to the terms of a new deal.
While the progress in nuclear diplomacy could mark a turning point in US-Iran relations, Thursday’s sanctions signal that Washington remains firm in its stance against Iran’s support for militant proxies, including Hezbollah.
The implications of these dual developments — escalating financial pressure on Hezbollah and renewed engagement with Iran — suggest a complex balancing act for US foreign policy in the Middle East.
