US Seeks Forfeiture of $61 Million in Crypto Tied to Alleged Iranian Oil Sales
Federal prosecutors say two Chinese companies used Binance accounts to launder proceeds from Iranian petroleum sales to Tehran or its proxies.
U.S. authorities are seeking to seize approximately $61 million in cryptocurrency that they allege represents proceeds from Iranian petroleum sales to Chinese buyers, according to a report by CNBC.
Federal prosecutors claim two Chinese companies used trading accounts on the cryptocurrency exchange Binance to launder the illicit proceeds and funnel the funds to Tehran or entities acting on its behalf, CNBC reported, citing a U.S. attorney's filing.
The forfeiture action involves cryptocurrency assets, according to the report, though the specific court and case details were not fully outlined in the available source material.
The case reflects continued U.S. efforts to enforce sanctions against Iran's oil trade, which Washington has sought to restrict through a range of financial and economic measures targeting Tehran's revenue streams.
CNBC's report did not indicate whether the Chinese companies or Binance have responded to the allegations. Further details on the specific charges, the identities of the companies involved, and the current status of the forfeiture proceedings were not immediately available.
Sources
- U.S. seeks to seize $61 million of crypto it claims are proceeds from Iranian petroleum sales to Chinese buyers — CNBC — Top News
EGazette summarizes reporting from multiple sources; follow the links for the originals.
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