US Imposes Fresh Sanctions on Iranian Exchange House, 19 Ships from Shadow Fleet The US Treasury Department has imposed fresh sanctions on the Amin Exchange and 19 ships from what Washington calls "the shadow fleet," a move aimed at straining Tehran's ability to circumvent financial restrictions.
The timing of this latest salvo is telling, coming just days after Iran's foreign minister announced his country was willing to engage in negotiations with the US on security and economic issues.
The Amin Exchange and its network of front companies facilitate billions of dollars' worth of foreign currency transactions annually, enabling Tehran to access the international financial system despite US imposed restrictions.