Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced sanctions against three organizations and two individuals tied to far-left extremist networks. He vowed to use the department's full economic weight to eliminate their funding sources.

Political Terrorism Designation

Bessent described political violence as a form of political terrorism with no place in society. In a post on X, he stated the department would continue severing these groups' funding sources until they are eliminated entirely.

The 2026 U.S. Counterterrorism Strategy lists violent far-left groups as one of three major terrorist threats facing the country. In July, the Treasury pledged to disrupt political terrorism financing after designating four Antifa-linked groups abroad as foreign terrorist organizations.

Sanctioned Entities

The Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control targeted the following entities:

Two leaders of Masar Badil, Zaid Abdulnasser and Rawa Alsagheer, were also individually sanctioned. The measures block all property these groups hold in the U.S. and bar Americans from transacting with them.

Broader Regulatory Context

This action follows Bessent's warning last week that countries maintaining financial ties to Iran would face severe consequences, part of an economic campaign he termed an "economic D-Day."

Secretary of State Marco Rubio sanctioned United Nations Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese in July 2025, accusing her of engaging with the International Criminal Court to investigate U.S. or Israeli nationals without consent. Earlier this month, the U.S. sanctioned ICC President Tomoko Akane over similar jurisdictional allegations, a move the ICC called a flagrant attack on its independence.

The U.K. designated Palestine Action a terrorist organization in 2025, a decision currently subject to legal challenges in British courts.

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf mocked US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s "economic D-Day" warning, dismissing it as unscripted improvisation. The remarks follow Washington’s expansion of secondary sanctions targeting nearly 60 Iran-linked entities.

Ghalibaf criticized Bessent for contrasting the campaign’s aggressive label with claims that the US does not intend to disrupt global finance. He posted on X: "Sir this ain’t Normandy, this is improv night and you forgot your own script."

Bessent Defends Secondary Sanctions Strategy

Bessent described the campaign as an "economic D-Day" during a press conference on Monday. He explained that Washington was providing a "cure period" for countries to remedy bad behavior before imposing secondary sanctions.

He stated, "Why would I want to blow up the global financial system?" while calling secondary sanctions a "very powerful tool." Bessent warned that non-compliant entities could ultimately "leave the dollar system."

The initiative, dubbed Operation Economic Outcast, broadens US sanctions pressure across shipping, aviation, technology, gold, and digital assets.

Iran Hits Back at US Sanctions

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei condemned the campaign, accusing Washington of threatening businesses and undermining international law. He argued the US was promoting systemic bullying by forcing banks and governments to choose between obeying Washington or facing sanctions.

Economists Question Iran Sanctions

Economists raised concerns about the strategy’s effectiveness. Justin Wolfers compared the approach to US sanctions against Cuba, noting broad measures could hurt civilians without forcing regime change. Peter Schiff questioned whether delaying harsh secondary sanctions weakened the credibility of the threat.

Mohamed El-Erian observed that Bessent’s remarks confirmed secondary sanctions were central to the strategy, indicating no entity was beyond US reach.