Washington: Today, as part of Operation Economic Outcast, the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) took action against the networks enabling the Iranian regime to wreak havoc in the Middle East through its terrorist proxies. Today's action targets entities and individuals that support Kataib Hizballah (KH) and Hizballah. According to U.S. Department of the Treasury, OFAC announced today an enforcement action against an individual for providing services to companies in Iran, and updated its Iran Statement of Licensing Policy to a presumption of denial except in limited circumstances. Operation Economic Outcast is targeting those who continue to stand with the Iranian regime, said Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent. Whether they finance terror, launder money, or help Iran evade sanctions, we will find them, cut them off from the U.S. financial system, and dismantle the networks keeping the regime afloat. KH and Lebanese Hizballah fuel Iran's influence in the Middle Ea st, endanger U.S. and partner forces, and facilitate sanctions evasion schemes. Spread across Iraq, Lebanon, the United Arab Emirates, and Turkey, today's targets underscore the global reach of the Iranian regime's networks and the threat posed by the terrorist proxy organizations. Today's designations strike at the core of Iran's proxies-groups that terrorize civilians across the Middle East and serve as Tehran's primary instruments for projecting violence and destabilization. Today's action is being taken pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 13224, as amended, which targets terrorists and their supporters. The U.S. Department of State designated KH as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) pursuant to E.O. 13224 and as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) pursuant to section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act on June 24, 2009. Hizballah was designated as a SDGT pursuant to E.O. 13224 on October 31, 2001, and as an FTO pursuant to section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act on October 8, 1997. Today's action is also being taken pursuant to E.O. 13902, which targets persons operating in the Iranian economy. Announced by Secretary Bessent on August 24, 2026, dubbed Economic D-Day, Operation Economic Outcast is severing the economic lifelines that sustain the Iranian regime. Treasury has mapped the networks, facilitators, and financial channels that Iran uses to smuggle oil, evade sanctions, and fund terror. Working with partners across the U.S. government, the European Union, United Kingdom, Gulf partners, and others, Treasury is targeting any source of the regime's revenue, as well as its sanctions evasion schemes. Operation Economic Outcast expanded sanctions risk for those who continue to do business with Iran. Treasury warned that any entity facilitating money laundering or sanctions evasion on behalf of Iran risks being cut off from the U.S. financial system. It also expanded secondary sanctions exposure for those who continue doing business with the Iranian regime and will accelerate U.S. enforcement. KH is a leading militant faction within Iran's so-called Axis of Resistance and receives support from Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Qods Force (IRGC-QF), itself designated as a terrorist organization by the United States. KH is also the most influential faction within Iraq's militia-dominated Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF). KH seeks to threaten the American people, as evidenced by the May 16, 2026, arrest of a senior KH commander for attempting to arrange the bombing of a New York synagogue. Since February 2026, KH and other Iranian-aligned militia groups have conducted hundreds of attacks against U.S. and Coalition forces. Today, OFAC is taking action against four KH commanders and members: Ali Hasan Farhan Al-Lami, Hussein Ahmed Hussein Al-Dhuhaibawi, Mohamed Ameen Fadhil Ali Al-Shaikhli, and Karrar Mohammed Qasim Al-Hraishawi, who are each active KH members. They are being designated pursuant to E.O. 13224 for acting on behalf of, directly or indirectly, Kataib Hizballah. The PMF and the PMC are heavily influenced by Iran's militias, such as KH, that operate at the direction of the IRGC-QF. Abbas Jawad Kadhim Al-Tameemi is a senior official with the PMC's Directorate of Technical Equipment. Abdullah Nadhim Luaibi Al Ameri is a UAE-based Iraqi arms dealer and founder of Iraq-based Al-Brouj For General Contracting Company Ltd. Khaldoon Naser Maryoosh Al-Abada is a representative of Iraqi PMC-affiliated procurement company Ain Al-Iraq For Protecting Technology and Audio, Visual, and Communications Solutions Company Ltd. They are being designated pursuant to E.O. 13224 for supporting Saleh Mahdi Hantush al-Maksusi. Majid Ali Akbar Namdar Al-Mandalawi uses Iraqi private banks to transfer funding through his hawala, Shams and Bahr Trading Company L.L.C. This Dubai-based exchange has been used to remit millions of dollars from Iraq to Iran via the UAE. Shams and Bahr Trading Company, L.L.C. is being designated pursuant to E.O. 13902 for operating in the financial sector of the Irani an economy. The IRGC-QF uses front companies to transfer funds from Iranian oil sales to exchange houses. Hussein Ibrahim and Abdallah Hamieh transferred hundreds of millions of dollars from the IRGC-QF to Hizballah. U.S.-designated Hizballah financier Hamdi Zaher El Dine directs several Lebanese exchanges. Shams and Bahr Trading Company, L.L.C. is being designated for operating in the financial sector of the Iranian economy. Hussein Ibrahim, Abdallah Hamieh, and Wehbe are being designated for supporting Hizballah. Dealings with sanctioned parties, as well as jurisdictions such as Iran, are generally prohibited, and Iran-related enforcement actions continue to be a priority for OFAC. Today, OFAC announced that an individual has agreed to pay $1,427,230 to settle their potential civil liability for providing services to an Iranian company. The settlement reflects OFAC's determination of egregious violations. OFAC's enforcement campaign will continue as part of Operation Economic Outcast. Today, OFAC publish ed a new Iran Statement of Licensing Policy, notifying a presumption of denial except as required by law or in certain circumstances. OFAC's Licensing Division began denying Iran-related specific license requests. OFAC will maintain this policy until Iran changes its behavior. As a result of today's action, all property and interests in property of the designated persons described above that are in the United States or in the possession or control of U.S. persons are blocked and must be reported to OFAC. Violations of U.S. sanctions may result in penalties on U.S. and foreign persons. Financial institutions and persons may risk exposure to sanctions for transactions involving designated persons. Non-U.S. persons are also prohibited from causing U.S. persons to violate U.S. sanctions. Treasury's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) is issuing a Whistleblower Bulletin in support of Operation Economic Outcast. FinCEN welcomes tips regarding violations of the BSA or OFAC-administered sanctions programs . Individuals who provide information may be eligible for awards. Treasury is prepared to take enforcement actions against any foreign company supporting illicit Iranian commerce.