Iran Eases Crypto Rules for Exporters Amid US Sanctions
Iran's central bank has relaxed its foreign exchange rules to allow exporters to settle international trade obligations using Bitcoin and Tether, according to a recent report. This shift marks a significant move for digital assets in Iran's cross-border commerce, particularly as the country faces U.S. sanctions.
The new policy allows Iranian businesses to use domestic crypto exchanges to pay for imports in Bitcoin or USDT instead of routing all foreign earnings through conventional currency channels. Exporters can now apply their foreign revenue directly towards import bills without first selling it on a government exchange platform at the official rate.
This change is designed to draw foreign earnings back into Iran by making the repatriation process more flexible, particularly for exporters and cross-border trade settlement. However, details of the policy remain thin, with no clear guidance on which exporters qualify, which digital assets are permitted beyond Bitcoin and USDT, or what compliance and conversion requirements will apply.
The U.S. Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control has responded to Iran's expanding use of digital assets with a series of enforcement actions, including the sanctioning of four Iranian crypto exchanges in June as part of an operation called Economic Fury.