The United States has sanctioned seven Iranian officials and two London-based cryptocurrency exchanges linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps for human rights violations and illicit financial activities, the Treasury Department announced on January 30.

The Treasury designated six Iranian officials for roles in the violent repression of protesters, including Eskandar Momeni, Iran's interior minister and head of the National Security Council, and Majid Khademi, commander of the IRGC Intelligence Organisation.

Other sanctioned officials include IRGC provincial commanders Hamid Damghani for Gilan Province, Hossein Zare Kamali for Hamadan Province and Ghorban Mohammad Valizadeh for Tehran Province, as well as Mehdi Hajian, Law Enforcement Forces commander for Kermanshah Province.

The Treasury also designated Babak Morteza Zanjani, an Iranian-Emirati national, for corruption-related activities under Iran sanctions authorities.

Two UK-registered cryptocurrency exchanges, Zedcex Exchange Ltd and Zedxion Exchange Ltd, both based at 71-75 Shelton Street in London, were sanctioned for links to the IRGC. Zedcex was registered on August 22, 2022, whilst Zedxion was established on May 17, 2021.

The Treasury identified multiple digital currency addresses associated with Zedcex Exchange, including several TRON blockchain wallets used for illicit transactions.

The designations subject the individuals and entities to asset freezes and prohibit US persons from conducting transactions with them. The sanctions also carry secondary sanctions risk, meaning non-US entities conducting significant transactions with the designated parties could face penalties.

All seven designated individuals are subject to secondary sanctions, which can be applied to foreign financial institutions that knowingly facilitate significant transactions for them. The cryptocurrency exchanges face similar risks under Executive Order 13224, as amended by Executive Order 13886, which targets terrorism financing.

The Treasury removed seven aliases of Soltech Industry Co Ltd from the sanctions list and updated information for Mohammad Soltanmohammadi, removing several passport numbers whilst maintaining his designation for activities related to Iran's proliferation network.

The sanctions come amid escalating tensions between Washington and Tehran, with a US Navy aircraft carrier strike group approaching Iranian waters and the European Union designating the IRGC as a terrorist organisation on January 29. Iranian officials have warned that any US attack would draw a "swift and comprehensive" response.