#sanctions News & Analysis

Iran says it’s giving some countries access to the Strait of Hormuz, while Trump’s call for others to send warships is met with no promises

Iran announces it's granting selective access to the Strait of Hormuz while Trump calls on multiple countries including China, France, Japan, South Korea, and Britain to deploy warships to keep the strategic waterway open and safe. The international response to Trump's call for naval support remains uncertain with no concrete commitments reported.

Kharg Island is ‘the main node’ of Iran’s economy, and a U.S. takeover would provide leverage in any negotiations, energy expert says

Energy researcher Petras Katinas identifies Kharg Island as Iran's critical economic hub that funds the government and military. A potential U.S. takeover of this strategic oil facility could provide significant leverage in future negotiations with Iran.

Democratic Lawmakers Vow Oversight as DOJ Probe Into Binance Emerges

U.S. senators to oversee DOJ investigation of Binance over Iran-linked sanctions evasion

US Treasury sanctions enablers of North Korea IT worker fraud ring

Binance sues Wall Street Journal over February article on Iran-linked crypto flows, says claims are ‘false and defamatory’

Binance has filed a lawsuit against The Wall Street Journal over a February article that alleged the cryptocurrency exchange halted an internal investigation into Iran-linked crypto flows. Binance claims the article's allegations are 'false and defamatory.'

Binance sues Wall Street Journal as newspaper says U.S. Dept. of Justice is investigating Iran transactions

Binance is facing a lawsuit against the Wall Street Journal amid reports that the U.S. Department of Justice is investigating the exchange for Iran-related transactions. This adds regulatory pressure to Binance, which is already operating under a compliance monitor following a $4.3 billion settlement for anti-money laundering and sanctions violations in 2023.

Putin’s commodity comments add fuel to crypto’s geopolitical moment

Putin's comments suggest Russia may increasingly integrate cryptocurrency into commodity trading, potentially undermining traditional financial systems. This development could encourage other nations to adopt similar crypto-based trade strategies as part of broader geopolitical shifts.

Why A U.S. Court Says Binance Is Not (Yet) Liable for Terrorist Crypto Flows

A U.S. federal court dismissed a lawsuit against Binance accusing the exchange of facilitating terrorism financing for 64 attacks between 2016-2024. The court ruled that plaintiffs failed to prove Binance knowingly assisted specific attacks or that crypto flows directly enabled the terrorist operations in question.

Pakistan's parliament passes the Virtual Assets Act of 2026

Pakistan's parliament has passed the Virtual Assets Act of 2026, which legally establishes regulatory oversight for the country's cryptocurrency industry. The legislation includes provisions for sanctions compliance and anti-money laundering regulations, marking a significant step toward formal crypto regulation in Pakistan.

Binance rejects claims of Iranian exposure in response to US Senate inquiry

Binance has rejected claims of Iranian exposure following a US Senate inquiry, highlighting the growing regulatory scrutiny facing cryptocurrency exchanges. The exchange's response underscores the critical importance of maintaining robust compliance measures in the current regulatory environment.

Binance tells Senate probe no accounts sent crypto directly to Iran

Binance has denied allegations that any of its accounts directly sent cryptocurrency to Iran, pushing back against claims of $1.7 billion in Iran-linked crypto flows. The exchange called the media reports behind the Senate probe 'defamatory' and disputed the characterization of the transactions.

Iran Regime's Crypto Activity Topped $3 Billion as Illicit Transactions Surged in 2025: Report

Iran's cryptocurrency activity reached $3 billion in 2025 as sanctioned countries including Russia and North Korea significantly increased their illicit crypto transactions, according to a Chainalysis report. This surge highlights how sanctioned nations are leveraging digital assets to circumvent international financial restrictions.

Trump says ‘I have to be involved’ in choosing next Iran leader, ‘like with Delcy in Venezuela’

Trump stated he wants to be involved in selecting Iran's next leader, ruling out Mojtaba Khamenei as a replacement for his father Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was reportedly killed in war strikes. This represents significant U.S. intervention in Iranian leadership succession during ongoing conflict.

The Iran war is giving rise to a centuries-old economic theory—and laying waste to the WTO-based world order

The Iran conflict is reviving centuries-old economic theories that challenge the current WTO-based global trade system. This shift suggests a potential restructuring of international economic relationships away from multilateral trade frameworks toward more traditional economic models.

Air France will suspend flights to Havana after the U.S. Venezuela strike chokes Cuba’s oil lifeline

Air France is suspending flights to Havana following U.S. actions against Venezuela that have cut off Cuba's oil supply. Trump is now threatening tariffs on any country that ships or sells oil to Cuba, escalating economic pressure on the island nation.

Trump’s fury at Spain has him working to figure out how to wage a trade war even though it’s part of the EU

The article discusses Trump's anger toward Spain and his attempts to initiate a trade war despite Spain being part of the EU. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez made defiant statements about Middle East conflicts posing risks to millions of lives.

FATF warns stablecoins are becoming go-to tool for sanctions evasion

The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) warns that stablecoins are increasingly being used to evade international sanctions through peer-to-peer transfers via self-custody wallets. The international watchdog highlights that these transactions can bypass anti-money laundering checks and calls on countries to assess risks and implement appropriate safeguards.

Iranian Crypto Outflows Hit $10.3 Million After US‑Israeli Airstrikes, Chainalysis Finds

Iranian cryptocurrency exchanges experienced $10.3 million in withdrawals following US-Israeli airstrikes on February 28, according to Chainalysis data. The outflows highlight crypto's role as a financial refuge for Iranians amid economic instability and geopolitical tensions.

Iran’s Stablecoin Lifeline Survived the Bombs

Iran's cryptocurrency infrastructure, particularly stablecoins, remained operational during military airstrikes that began February 28, demonstrating the resilience of crypto systems for sanctions evasion. The US Treasury's investigation into crypto platforms helping Iranian officials bypass sanctions received a real-world stress test during the conflict.

Trump threatens Spain with trade war after it refuses to roll over and lend its army bases to the Iran effort

President Trump threatened to cut off all trade with Spain during a meeting with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, following Spain's refusal to provide military bases for operations related to Iran. This escalation could signal broader geopolitical tensions affecting global trade relationships.

International finance watchdog warns stablecoins are increasingly used in sanctions evasion and money laundering

The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) released a report highlighting that stablecoins now represent the majority of illicit cryptocurrency activity. The global financial watchdog specifically identified peer-to-peer transfers as enabling increased sanctions evasion and money laundering.

Iran Bitcoin Outflows Surge After US-Israel Airstrikes, On-Chain Data Shows

Following U.S.-Israeli airstrikes in Tehran, Iranian citizens moved $10.3 million worth of bitcoin off exchanges as they sought to preserve wealth amid financial instability. The on-chain data reveals a surge in crypto activity as Iranians turned to bitcoin during geopolitical tensions.

Iranian Exchange Outflows Spiked to $10.3M Amid Airstrikes: Chainalysis

Iranian cryptocurrency exchanges experienced significant outflows of $10.3 million following joint US-Israeli airstrikes, with peak hourly volumes reaching nearly $2 million. This represents a notable flight of capital from Iranian crypto platforms during a period of geopolitical tension.

Iranian Crypto Exchanges Record $10 Million in Outflows As Geopolitical Tensions Rise

Iranian cryptocurrency exchanges experienced $10.3 million in outflows between February 28-March 2, 2026, following US-Israeli airstrikes according to Chainalysis data. The significant capital flight demonstrates how geopolitical tensions directly impact crypto markets in affected regions.