‘이집트 은행 제재’ 미, 이란 경제고립 착수…이란 “굴복 않을 것”

With the sixth month of the US-Iran war underway, the United States has officially begun its campaign to isolate Iran by imposing sanctions on an Egyptian bank suspected of connections to the Iranian regime. Iran declared itself fully prepared for the sanctions, demanding the fulfillment of the peace treaty in exchange for America's cease-fire agreement.

Thus far, no tangible progress has been made in resolving tensions between the two nations. The U.S. Department of the Treasury reported on August 28 that its Financial Crime Enforcement Network (FinCEN) blocked Arab Emirates-based branches of Egypt's state-run Bank Misr, estimating that around $1.8 trillion (approximately 18 billion dollars) was processed for 103 companies believed to be part of Iran's shadow financial network between 2022 and June 2024.

The Treasury further classified the Egyptian embassy in Dubai and a fraudulent company based in Hong Kong as part of this sanction. Treasury Secretary Scott Beaumont stated, "Today, we took the first step to hold the Iranian regime accountable for its continued and unjust support." The following day, on August 29, the Arabian Monetary Authority announced a special emergency investigation targeting Bank Misr's Arab Emirates branch.

Bank Misr acknowledged receiving the Treasury's notice and vowed to continue serving clients in accordance with regulations and procedures. The second-largest bank in Egypt, Bank Misr, is concerned about the potential economic impact on the nation. Shortly after Treasury Secretary Beaumont warned of sanctions on Iran's oil imports from China, the U.S. has instead targeted smaller Egyptian banks in what critics allege is a move influenced by American fears of conflict with China.

Risk consulting firm OPMISODEN's Brent Erickson criticized the Treasury's threat to sanction major international financial institutions as an attempt to humiliate the Trump administration, noting that the sanctions amount to little more than a takedown of Iran's civilian sector. Meanwhile, former Secretary of State Linda Thomas-Greenfield urged the U.S. to pressure Iran to end the war, proposing a full withdrawal from Afghanistan in exchange for the conclusion of the peace treaty negotiations.