Iran Blocks 9,200 Bank Accounts Over Suspicious Foreign Currency, Crypto Transactions

Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence has reportedly blocked almost 10,000 bank accounts over suspicious foreign currency and cryptocurrency transactions. The action was carried out in collaboration with the country’s central bank.

9,219 Bank Accounts Blocked

Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence issued a statement Saturday stating that it has blocked a number of bank accounts due to suspicious foreign currency and cryptocurrency transactions, local media reported. The ministry detailed:

A total of 9,219 bank accounts belonging to 545 individuals were blocked.

The statement adds that the total transaction value blocked was over 60 trillion Iranian tomans, which is approximately $2 billion based on the daily dollar exchange rate in the Iranian open market. Iran’s currency recently hit a four-month low against the U.S. dollar.

However, the ministry did not provide any details on the accounts or how much of the turnover was in digital currency.

The Ministry of Intelligence’s action was carried out by the order of a judge and in collaboration with the country’s central bank. It was part of the Iranian government’s recent plan to combat illegal and unauthorized foreign currency and cryptocurrency transactions. In December last year, the ministry announced that it froze bank accounts of more than 700 “illegal” foreign exchange traders in the country.

Meanwhile, Iran is also cracking down on unauthorized cryptocurrency mining. The authorities have shut down about 7,000 unauthorized mining facilities in the past two years. The Iranian government has also drafted new rules to increase penalties for illegal cryptocurrency mining, including additional fines and imprisonment.