SWIFT

Georgia’s Turn Toward China’s Financial System

Georgia, once Washington’s closest partner in the Caucasus region, is strengthening its economic ties with Beijing. Four Georgian banks have applied to join China’s Cross-Border Interbank Payment System...

From Oil to Oman: 10 Ways to Economically Cripple Iran’s War Machine

Now is the perfect time to tighten the financial thumbscrews on Iran. The clerical regime has been significantly weakened by the unprecedented Israeli and U.S. military attacks on the Islamic Republic...

New Sanctions Against the Houthis Take Aim at the Terrorist Group’s Banking Sector 

The Trump administration is following through on the promise of a whole-of-government approach to stopping Houthi terrorism. While U.S. Central Command forces have been continuously striking the group...

U.S. Sanctions Key Russian Banks, Yet Financial System Remains Accessible

The United States on Thursday sanctioned Russia’s third-largest bank, Gazprombank, the last major financial institution in the country that has escaped designation from Washington until now. While this...

Iran, Russia Link Banking Systems in Effort to Bypass Western Sanctions

Russia and Iran Connect Banking System: Iran and Russia have begun linking their banking systems to allow Iranians to use their bank cards in Russia — an apparent effort to blunt the impact of Western sanctions on both countries.

Israel executes waves of strikes on Hezbollah financial institution

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) conducted airstrikes on the Al-Qard al-Hassan Association, a group the IDF said is “used to finance Hezbollah’s terror activities.” The strikes occurred as the IDF...

The Saudi-Iran Agreement: Should Washington Be Worried?

While a few statements and photo ops here and there might suggest that Saudi Crown Prince and de facto ruler Muhammad Bin Salman (MBS) is in the process of replacing Saudi Arabia’s traditional partner,...

Sanctioned Russian Bank to Begin Money Transfers to Turkey 

VTB Bank, Russia’s second-largest lender, announced last week that it would more than double the number of countries to which retail clients can transfer funds, with Turkey as one of the key new destinations....

Ruble Rumble

Offensive and Defensive Measures to Defeat Russia in the Economic Domain

Strategy for a New Comprehensive U.S. Policy on Iran

The Evolution of Kim Jong Un’s ‘All-Purpose Sword’

Time to Sanction Russia’s Alternative to SWIFT

Per an agreement with Washington and other Western allies, the European Union last week prohibited the SWIFT financial messaging system from providing services to seven Russian banks sanctioned over Moscow’s...

Crypto Rogues

U.S. State Adversaries Seeking Blockchain Sanctions Resistance

Oman in the Middle

Muscat’s Balancing Act Between Iran and America

Midterm Assessment: Iran

For Economic Sanctions to Work, Trump Must Turn up the Heat on Iran

The Trump administration's strategy of maximum pressure on Iran took full effect on Nov. 5. It included the re-imposition of oil sanctions and designation of more than 700 Iranian entities...

Treasury Re-Imposes Banking Sanctions on Iran, but Gaps Remain

The U.S. Treasury Department sanctioned 50 Iranian banks as well as their foreign and domestic subsidiaries on Monday as part of “its la...

Evolving Menace

Iran’s Use of Cyber-Enabled Economic Warfare

Don’t Let Iran’s Rulers Abuse the Humanitarian Channel to the Detriment of the People

Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin announced today that the global financial messaging service SWIFT “would be subject to U.S....