Israel declares Iran’s Central Bank terrorist organization – Ministry of Defense

The ministry also claimed that economic sanctions will be imposed against several organizations and figures but did not specify.

Jerusalem: The Israeli Defense Ministry on Wednesday declared the Central Bank of Iran (CBI) and two other Iranian banks as terrorist organizations, and imposed sanctions against three executives of the Iranian oil company SEJ.

"Israeli Defense Minister [Israel] Katz signed a decree according to which the Central Bank of Iran, two other Iranian banks, an oil company [SEJ] owned by the Iranian armed forces, and three of the company’s executives were declared terrorist organizations and terrorist figures as part of the campaign against Iran," the ministry said in the statement.

All the mentioned organizations, including the Central Bank of Iran and the Iranian banks SHAHR and MELLAT, are also recognized as terrorist organizations in the United States and sanctioned, the statement read. The degree is aimed at "undermining the systems financing the Iranian terrorist regime," which allegedly "sponsors terror in the Middle East," it added.

The ministry also claimed that economic sanctions will be imposed against several organizations and figures but did not specify.

"No official engaged in dealing with terrorism will have immunity. The State of Israel will continue to use all of its military, economic, and intelligence power to expose, attack, and destroy the Iranian evil axis wherever it operates," Katz said.

The situation in the Middle East escalated on June 13, when Israel launched a large-scale operation against Iran, accusing it of implementing a secret military nuclear program.

Tehran retaliated by launching Operation True Promise III, hitting military targets inside Israel. On June 22, the United States struck three Iranian nuclear sites in Natanz, Fordow, and Isfahan, joining Israel's campaign against Iran. US President Donald Trump said after the attack that Tehran "must now agree to end this war" or face far more serious consequences.

On Monday, Iran launched a missile strike on the US's Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar in response to the US attack. Trump said late on Monday that Israel and Iran had agreed to a ceasefire that would, after 24 hours, be an official end to the 12-day war. On Tuesday, Trump said that the ceasefire between Iran and Israel was now in effect, urging the sides not to violate it.