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Daily Tribune
2 hours ago
- Business
- Daily Tribune
US steps up sanctions as Mideast attacks flare
AFP | Washington The United States issued new Iran-related sanctions yesterday, taking aim at the procurement of machinery for the country's defense industry at a time when war is flaring in the Middle East. The US Treasury Department said it was targeting an individual and eight entities over their roles in the sourcing and transshipment of 'sensitive machinery for Iran's defence industry.' 'The United States remains resolved to disrupt any effort by Iran to procure the sensitive, dual-use technology, components, and machinery that underpin the regime's ballistic missile, unmanned aerial vehicle, and asymmetric weapons programs,' said Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent in a statement. He added that Treasury would continue to target Iran's ability to make and proliferate such weapons, 'which threaten regional stability and global security.' The action comes as conflict is heating up in the Middle East. Iran has been firing daily missile salvos at Israel for the past week, since a wide-ranging Israeli attack on the Islamic Republic's nuclear installations and military bases triggered war. The Treasury's latest targets included Iranian firm Towse Sanaye Nim Resanaye Tarashe and Hong Kong-based Unico Shipping Co, whose vessel was carrying machinery for a designated company. In a separate statement, the Treasury Department said it imposed sanctions directed at Yemen's Iran-backed Huthi rebels as well -- on four individuals, 12 entities and two vessels that imported oil and other illicit goods in support of the group. 'The Houthis rely on a series of front companies and trusted facilitators to clandestinely generate revenue, procure weapons components, and advance their reign of terror in partnership with the Iranian regime,' said US Deputy Treasury Secretary Michael Faulkender. He said the latest move was the department's 'most significant to date against the group.' In a separate statement, State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce added that Washington seeks to deprive the Huthis of 'resources they need to carry out their reckless and destabilizing actions.'
The Hindu
19 hours ago
- Business
- The Hindu
U.S. steps up Iran-related sanctions as West Asia attacks flare
The United States issued new Iran-related sanctions on Friday (June 20, 2025), taking aim at the procurement of machinery for the country's defence industry at a time when war is flaring in West Asia. The U.S. Treasury Department said it was targeting an individual and eight entities over their roles in the sourcing and transshipment of "sensitive machinery for Iran's defense industry." "The United States remains resolved to disrupt any effort by Iran to procure the sensitive, dual-use technology, components, and machinery that underpin the regime's ballistic missile, unmanned aerial vehicle, and asymmetric weapons programs," said Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent in a statement. Israel-Iran conflict updates: June 20, 2025 He added that Treasury would continue to target Iran's ability to make and proliferate such weapons, "which threaten regional stability and global security." The action comes as conflict is heating up in the Middle East. Iran has been firing daily missile salvos at Israel for the past week, since a wide-ranging Israeli attack on the Islamic Republic's nuclear installations and military bases triggered war. The Treasury's latest targets included Iranian firm Towse Sanaye Nim Resanaye Tarashe and Hong Kong-based Unico Shipping Co, whose vessel was carrying machinery for a designated company. In a separate statement, the Treasury Department said it imposed sanctions directed at Yemen's Iran-backed Huthi rebels as well — on four individuals, 12 entities and two vessels that imported oil and other illicit goods in support of the group. "The Houthis rely on a series of front companies and trusted facilitators to clandestinely generate revenue, procure weapons components, and advance their reign of terror in partnership with the Iranian regime," said US Deputy Treasury Secretary Michael Faulkender. He said the latest move was the department's "most significant to date against the group." In a separate statement, State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce added that Washington seeks to deprive the Huthis of "resources they need to carry out their reckless and destabilizing actions."
Forbes
13-06-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Senate Confirms Billy Long As The Next IRS Commissioner
WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 20: Former Rep. Billy Long (R-MO), U.S. President Donald Trump's nominee to be Internal Revenue Service Commissioner, speaks during a Senate Finance Committee nomination hearing on Capitol Hill on May 20, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Photo by) Getty Images The Senate has confirmed former U.S. Representative Billy Long of Missouri as the next commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). The vote was 53-44 along party lines, with all Republicans in the Senate voting yes—all of the no votes came from Democrats. The vote puts a period on a process that had grown contentious at times. President Donald Trump announced Long's nomination in December of 2024, even though Danny Werfel was then serving a term as IRS Commissioner that would normally run until late in 2027. Werfel subsequently announced his resignation, effective January 20, 2025. Since Long had not yet been confirmed at that time, Werfel was replaced by Doug O'Donnell, who had served as Acting Commissioner following Werfel's departure. O'Donnell left his position on February 28, 2025 and was replaced by then IRS Chief Operating Officer Melanie Krause. Krause announced her departure in April 2025, following the tax agency's agreement to share immigrant tax data with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Michael Faulkender joined the revolving doors at the IRS as the Acting Commissioner on April 18, 2025—he has been in the position since that time. Long will now officially take the reins at the tax agency. Long does not have any formal training in tax, law, or accounting, does not have a college degree, and never served in Congress on a tax writing committee. He dropped out of the University of Missouri before returning to school—this time, to an auction training program at the Missouri Auction School. He was told, he explained to Auctioneer Magazine, that it was the "Harvard of auctioneering schools.' There, he earned his Certified Auctioneer designation. Once he made the career switch to auctioneering, Long says he averaged about 200 auctions per year for 20 years. Today, he is in the National Auction Association Hall of Fame. In 2010, Long was elected as the U.S. Representative of Missouri's 7th Congressional District, serving until 2023. He subsequently ran for the U.S. Senate in 2022 but lost in the Republican primary. While in the House, Long served on the Committee on Energy and Commerce, the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, the Committee on Homeland Security, and the Republican Steering Committee. He did not serve on any tax or finance committees. However, he was awarded the "Tax Fighter Award" by the National Tax Limitation Committee (the organization appears to no longer exist—its former website now points to a Thai gambling site). IRS Commissioners are appointed for a five-year term that runs from the date of appointment (as opposed to the date of Senate confirmation). Before Trump's announcement, Werfel had previously indicated that he intended to serve out his term, which was slated to expire in 2027. Before Werfel, Charles Rettig, a tax lawyer and Trump appointee, served as Commissioner. Rettig left office on November 12, 2022, at the end of his term, which began on October 1, 2018, after he was confirmed. Long was confirmed despite concerns about his ties to companies that promoted controversial tax credits, including a nonexistent 'tribal tax credit and the employee retention tax credit (ERC). Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), the Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Finance, pulled no punches at Long's May 20 confirmation hearing, saying, 'Congressman Long's experience with tax issues came after he left Congress, when he dove headlong into the tax scam industry.' Democrats also expressed concern that Long might allow political interference from the White House at the tax agency, an issue that has been in the spotlight more since Trump threatened to revoke Harvard University's tax-exempt status. Long has reposted social media posts critical of Harvard, Columbia, and other tax-exempt organizations. When questioned about the issue by Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Long initially suggested that he would seek legal advice to determine whether it would be appropriate for the president to direct the IRS to conduct an investigation or audit. Long replied, 'I'm gonna follow the law, and if that's the law, yes.' Warren confirmed that it was the law, reading aloud part of the statute (Section 7217), which she had sent to him in advance. Since Long is serving out the remainder of Werfel's term, he is expected to serve through November 12, 2027.
Middle East Eye
10-06-2025
- Politics
- Middle East Eye
US sanctions charities it says are linked to Hamas's armed wing
The US on Tuesday sanctioned five individuals and five charities that it said were providing financial support to Hamas's military wing, the al-Qassam Brigades, in addition to one charity it said was supporting the Popular Front For The Liberation Of Palestine (PLFP). 'Today's action underscores the importance of safeguarding the charitable sector from abuse by terrorists like Hamas and the PFLP, who continue to leverage sham charities as fronts for funding their terrorist and military operations,' Deputy Treasury Secretary Michael Faulkender said in a statement. 'Treasury will continue to use all available tools to prevent Hamas, the PFLP, and other terrorist actors from exploiting the humanitarian situation in Gaza to fund their violent activities at the expense of their own people,' he added. The US has long designated Hamas and the PLFP as terror organisations. The sweeping sanctions hit organisations from the Middle East and Europe. Filistin Vakfi, a Turkey-based charity that the US said 'campaigned and raised funds with the clear intention of funding Hamas terrorist activities', was sanctioned along with its president, Zeki Abdullah Ibrahim Ararawi. New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters The sanctions also targeted the Netherlands-based Israa Charitable Foundation and the Italy-based Associazione Benefica La Cupola d'Oro. The US said the former 'reports directly to the Hamas military wing and is composed of additional US-designated organizations that generate revenue for Hamas under the guise of legitimate charitable work'. The US said the Italy-based organisation was founded by Mohammad Hannoun, previously sanctioned in October 2024, 'who publicly promoted the charity and used it to continue evading sanctions and raising revenue for the Hamas military wing through donors, many of whom were unwitting of the links to Hamas'. The US also sanctioned Al Weam Charitable Society in Gaza for allegedly supporting Hamas's military wing and the Addameer Prisoner Support and Human Rights Association in the occupied West Bank over its alleged links to the PFLP. The US sanctions will freeze any assets the organisations or people have within the US and bar them from conducting any US dollar-based financial transactions. US sanctions carry heft because the dollar is the world's reserve currency. The US has rolled out a steady stream of sanctions on Hamas since its military wing led attacks on southern Israel on 7 October 2023. In response, Israel unleashed a devastating assault on the Gaza Strip. According to the Gaza health ministry, at least 54,981 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces since October 2023, including more than 28,000 women and girls. The figure also includes at least 1,400 health sector professionals, 280 United Nations aid workers - the highest staff death toll in UN history - and 227 journalists, the highest number of media workers killed in conflict since the Committee to Protect Journalists began recording data in 1992.
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
US issues sanctions against charities supporting Hamas, PFLP
WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The United States imposed sanctions on Tuesday targeting individuals and sham charities that it said were prominent financial supporters of the Palestinian groups Hamas and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine. The individuals and groups targeted were funding Hamas' military wing under the pretense of doing humanitarian work, in Gaza and internationally, the Treasury Department said. The Treasury said it will continue to seek disruptions to the financial capabilities of Hamas, which still holds hostages it seized in the group's October 7, 2023, attack on Israel. The entities sanctioned included the Gaza-based Al Weam Charitable Society, the Turkey-based Filistin Vakfi, the El Baraka Association for Charitable and Humanitarian Work, which is based in Algeria, the Netherlands-based Israa Charitable Foundation and the Associazione Benefica La Cupola d'Oro, based in Italy, the department said in a statement. The five individuals targeted on Tuesday were leaders associated with the groups, it said. "Today's action underscores the importance of safeguarding the charitable sector from abuse by terrorists like Hamas and the PFLP, who continue to leverage sham charities as fronts for funding their terrorist and military operations," Deputy Secretary Michael Faulkender said in the statement. Hamas and PFLP have a long histroy of abusing non-profit organizations and charities, the Treasury said.
