Brussels: The US Treasury Department: issued new Iran-related sanctions amid renewed hostilities following Iranian attacks on three commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz.

According to Anadolu Agency, the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced it had designated Ali Ansari, linking him to Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Several "shadow exchange houses" operating from Tehran and Shiraz were also targeted.

The newly sanctioned entities added to the Specially Designated Nationals List include Mohammad Darbani and Partners Exchange, Mohsen Khandan and Partners Exchange, and Lavasani and Partners Exchange. These general partnership companies are reported to be based in Iran.

Furthermore, Smart Global Limited, a holding company registered in Saint Kitts and Nevis, was also designated by the agency, described as being connected to Ansari.