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US Sanctions 11 Iranians, 2 Entities for Involvement in Malicious Acts

The north side of the US Treasury Building in Washington (Reuters)
The north side of the US Treasury Building in Washington (Reuters)
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US Sanctions 11 Iranians, 2 Entities for Involvement in Malicious Acts

The north side of the US Treasury Building in Washington (Reuters)
The north side of the US Treasury Building in Washington (Reuters)

Washington- The US Department of Treasury has imposed sanctions on 11 Iranians and two entities accused of aiding Iran’s nuclear program or engaging in malicious cyber-activity.

The sanctions freeze any assets they may hold in the US and prohibit Americans from doing business with them.

The Treasury announced that the relevant parties were involved in activities in support of the Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and to carry out harmful cyber-attacks against the US financial system.

Two companies based in Ukraine and two companies located in Iran also appear on the list.

The Treasury listed an Indian company, headquartered in Iran, on the sanctions’ list due to the company’s activities in providing financial and technological support as well as other forms of supports, goods and services to the IRGC in its ballistic missiles program.

In its statement, the Treasury revealed that the firm has since 2014 entered into contracts to procure and install numerous, multi-ton explosion-proof crane systems for the IRGC organization which is responsible for researching and developing ballistic missiles.

The ministry also designated Ukraine-based Khors Aircompany and Dart Airlines for aiding designated Iranian and Iraqi airlines through the provision of aircraft and services.  Both Khors Aircompany and Dart Airlines help Iran’s Caspian Air and Iraq’s Al-Naser Airlines procure US-origin aircraft, as well as crew and services.

“Treasury will continue to take strong actions to counter Iran’s provocations, including support for the IRGC-Quds Force and terrorist extremists, the ongoing campaign of violence in Syria, and cyber-attacks meant to destabilize the US financial system,” Treasury Department Secretary Steven Mnuchin said in a statement on Thursday.

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Italians Head to Polls in Referendum on Citizenship and Labor, But Vote Risks Sinking on Low Turnout

A woman casts her ballot in a box for referendums on citizenship and job protections, at a polling station in Milan, Italy, Sunday, June 8, 2025. (Claudio Furlan/ LaPresse via AP)
A woman casts her ballot in a box for referendums on citizenship and job protections, at a polling station in Milan, Italy, Sunday, June 8, 2025. (Claudio Furlan/ LaPresse via AP)
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Italians Head to Polls in Referendum on Citizenship and Labor, But Vote Risks Sinking on Low Turnout

A woman casts her ballot in a box for referendums on citizenship and job protections, at a polling station in Milan, Italy, Sunday, June 8, 2025. (Claudio Furlan/ LaPresse via AP)
A woman casts her ballot in a box for referendums on citizenship and job protections, at a polling station in Milan, Italy, Sunday, June 8, 2025. (Claudio Furlan/ LaPresse via AP)

Italians headed to the polls Monday on the second and final day of referendums that would make it easier for children born in Italy to foreigners to obtain citizenship, and on providing more job protections. But partial data showed a low turnout, well below the required 50% plus one threshold, risking to invalidate the vote.
Campaigners for the change in the citizenship law say it will help second-generation Italians born in the country to non- European Union parents better integrate into a culture they already see as theirs, The Associated Press said.
Partial data from Italy’s Interior Ministry published at 2100 GMT on Sunday showed that national turnout stood at 22.7%, just over half of the 41% registered at the same time of the day in the latest comparable referendum held in 2011. The polling stations close later Monday at 1300 GMT.
The new rules, if passed, could affect about 2.5 million foreign nationals who still struggle to be recognized as citizens.
The measures were proposed by Italy’s main union and left-wing opposition parties. Premier Giorgia Meloni showed up at the polls on Sunday evening but didn't cast a ballot — an action widely criticized by the left as antidemocratic, since it won't contribute to reaching the necessary threshold to make the vote valid.
“While some members of her ruling coalition have openly called for abstention, Meloni has opted for a more subtle approach,“ said analyst Wolfango Piccoli of the Teneo consultancy based in London. ”It’s yet another example of her trademark fence-sitting.’’
Rights at stake
Supporters say this reform would bring Italy’s citizenship law in line with many other European countries, promoting greater social integration for long-term residents. It would also allow faster access to civil and political rights, such as the right to vote, eligibility for public employment and freedom of movement within the EU.
“The real drama is that neither people who will vote ‘yes’ nor those who intend to vote ‘no’ or abstain have an idea of what (an) ordeal children born from foreigners have to face in this country to obtain a residence permit,” said Selam Tesfaye, an activist and campaigner with the Milan-based human rights group Il Cantiere.
Activists and opposition parties also denounced the lack of public debate on the measures, accusing the governing center-right coalition of trying to dampen interest in sensitive issues that directly impact immigrants and workers.
In May, Italy’s AGCOM communications authority lodged a complaint against RAI state television and other broadcasters over a lack of adequate and balanced coverage.
Opinion polls published in mid-May showed that only 46% of Italians were aware of the issues driving the referendums. Turnout projections were even weaker for a vote scheduled for the first weekend of Italy’s school holidays, at around 35% of around 50 million electors, well below the required quorum.
“Many believe that the referendum institution should be reviewed in light of the high levels of abstention (that) emerged in recent elections and the turnout threshold should be lowered,” said Lorenzo Pregliasco, political analyst and pollster at YouTrend.
Some analysts note, however, that the center-left opposition could claim a victory even if the referendum fails on condition that the turnout surpasses the 12.3 million voters who backed the winning center-right coalition in the 2022 general election.