{
  "id": 7393989,
  "title": "Russia's VTB Bank latest target in Treasury's economic campaign against Iran",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/14/russias-vtb-bank-latest-target-in-treasurys-economic-campaign-against",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-14T20:29:45.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The National UAE",
    "slug": "the-national-uae",
    "url": "https://www.thenationalnews.com/news/us/2026/09/14/russias-vtb-bank-latest-target-in-treasurys-economic-campaign-against-iran/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The United States has imposed fresh sanctions on Russia's VTB Bank, alleging the financial institution assists Iran in evading restrictions and funding terrorism. The move marks the latest step in the U.S. effort to isolate Iran's economy and comes as part of President Donald Trump's maximum pressure campaign. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has been urging European and Gulf partners to target sources of revenue for the Iranian regime.\n\nBessent had previously hinted at targeting a \"large bank\" this week, though he did not specify which institution. \"Under Operation Economic Outcast, Treasury will continue to target and disrupt those who provide material, technological or financial support allowing the Iranian regime to sustain its terrorist enterprise,\" he stated. The Treasury Department is broadening its secondary sanctions campaign, threatening to cut off dollar access to entities that maintain business with Iran.\n\nVTB Bank was sanctioned by the U.S. in 2022 following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The Treasury has accused the bank of expanding its ties with Iran, opening offices in the country, and facilitating billions of dollars in frozen assets and increasing bilateral trade. This marks the third financial institution targeted by the U.S. The Treasury has previously sanctioned Egypt's Banque Misr branch in the UAE, a Turkish bank and its subsidiaries, as well as Iranian commercial airlines linked to Iran's aviation sector.\n\nHowever, the latest sanctions on VTB Bank do not impose full secondary sanctions. The Treasury also recently targeted other Iranian targets, including Iranian commercial airlines allegedly used to move weapons, personnel, and illicit cargo.",
  "summary": "The US on Monday imposed new sanctions on Russia's VTB Bank over its financial ties to Iran , accusing the country's second-largest financial institution of helping Tehran to evade restrictions. The measures against the heavily sanctioned lender are the latest by the US to isolate Iran's economy. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has been pushing European and Gulf partners to hit sources of the…",
  "key_points": [
    "U.S. sanctions VTB Bank for aiding Iran in evading restrictions and funding terrorism",
    "Treasury Secretary urges partners to target Iranian revenue sources",
    "VTB Bank targeted third time, following sanctions on Egyptian and Turkish banks"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 6,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The National Business",
        "title": "Russia's VTB Bank latest target in Treasury's economic campaign against Iran",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/14/russias-vtb-bank-latest-target-in-treasurys-economic-campaign-against-7395232",
        "published": "2026-09-14T20:29:45.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Meduza (English)",
        "title": "The U.S. sanctioned Russia’s VTB Bank over its work with Iran. A former Treasury official says the move is also meant to pressure Chinese banks.",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/14/the-u-s-sanctioned-russias-vtb-bank-over-its-work-with-iran-a-former",
        "published": "2026-09-14T20:55:50.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Daily Post Nigeria",
        "title": "US designates Russian bank for helping Iran evade sanctions",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/14/us-designates-russian-bank-for-helping-iran-evade-sanctions",
        "published": "2026-09-14T21:34:11.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "US accuses Russian bank of aiding Iran’s sanctions evasion",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/14/us-accuses-russian-bank-of-aiding-irans-sanctions-evasion",
        "published": "2026-09-14T22:13:48.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Kyiv Independent",
        "title": "US slaps new penalties on Russia's VTB Bank over Iran sanctions evasion",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/14/us-slaps-new-penalties-on-russias-vtb-bank-over-iran-sanctions-evasion",
        "published": "2026-09-14T22:24:40.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}