US Targets UAE Bank Tied to Iran in New Sanctions Campaign
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has announced plans to cut off bank branches in the United Arab Emirates from the U.S. financial system, as part of a campaign to target financial systems that enable Iran.
The Department of the Treasury is proposing a rule that will ban U.S. banks from facilitating transactions involving the UAE-based branches of Banque Misr, one of Egypt's largest banks.
Bessent said in a statement that 'Iran's enablers cannot continue to enjoy access to the U.S. dollar and the global financial system.' He accused Banque Misr's operations in the UAE of being 'a significant conduit for Iranian shadow banking,' allowing Iranian entities to access U.S. dollars, circumventing U.S. sanctions.
The Treasury found 103 potential front companies that moved $1.8 billion through Banque Misr UAE accounts from January 2024 to June 2026.