logo

AmEx closed 30 accounts potentially tied to Iran's government

Zawya10-02-2025
U.S. credit card giant American Express identified and closed 30 consumer accounts in 2024 that it said could have had ties to the Government of Iran.
The accounts were only used for personal expenses, AmEx said in a regulatory filing on Friday. It also ended its relationship with a third-party ATM network provider, which was connected to an Iranian bank sanctioned by the U.S. government.
The company said it had voluntarily reported the activity to the Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control. Gross revenue and net profit attributable to these transactions were negligible, it added.
The OFAC enforces economic and trade sanctions against foreign entities viewed as a threat to the United States.
Spokespeople for the Treasury did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Iraq restores power after blackouts hit the country
Iraq restores power after blackouts hit the country

Dubai Eye

time7 days ago

  • Dubai Eye

Iraq restores power after blackouts hit the country

Power has been restored in Iraq, a government official said on Tuesday, a day after electricity outages hit large parts of the country. Electricity ministry sources had told Reuters a sudden shutdown at the Hamidiya power plant in the western province of Anbar led to a fault in the electricity transmission network that caused a power outage in the central and southern regions of the country. The temperature in the capital Baghdad reached a high of 48 degrees Celsius on Tuesday. "The defect was brought under control and fixed in record time, and the power system is now stable," Adel Karim, an adviser to the Iraqi prime minister, told Reuters on Tuesday. Many Iraqis have relied for years on privately operated generators for power as government-provided electricity was only intermittently available. Others have turned to solar power to help meet their electricity needs. A member of the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), and one of the world's leading oil producers, Iraq has struggled to provide its citizens with energy since the 2003 US-led invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein. In the ensuing turmoil, under-investment and mismanagement left the national grid unable to cope with demand. In March, US President Donald Trump's administration rescinded a waiver that had allowed Iraq to pay Iran for electricity, as part of Trump's "maximum pressure" campaign against Tehran. Iraq is heavily dependent on Iranian natural gas imports to generate power.

Shamkhani Oil Empire Slapped With Record US Sanctions
Shamkhani Oil Empire Slapped With Record US Sanctions

Arabian Post

time31-07-2025

  • Arabian Post

Shamkhani Oil Empire Slapped With Record US Sanctions

Arabian Post Staff -Dubai The U. S. Treasury has placed sweeping sanctions on a sprawling oil‑trading and shipping network linked to Mohammad Hossein Shamkhani, whose father, Ali Shamkhani, serves as adviser to Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The action, imposed on 30 July 2025, marks the most extensive Iran‑related sanctions package since 2018, covering more than 115 individuals, entities and vessels. At the heart of the measures is Shamkhani's maritime empire, comprising 15 shipping firms, 52 vessels and 53 entities operating across 17 countries from Panama to Hong Kong. Officials contend the network funnels tens of billions of dollars in revenue from Iranian and Russian oil sales, largely to buyers in China, using aliases, front companies and falsified documentation to conceal ownership and origin. ADVERTISEMENT Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent described the network as a prime example of elite Iranian circles using state influence for private gain while empowering Tehran's destabilising agenda, asserting that this is 'the largest to‑date since the Trump Administration implemented our campaign of maximum pressure on Iran'. Hossein—known in industry as 'H', 'Hector' or, in travel documents, 'Hugo Hayek'—is said to travel internationally using foreign passports and operate from the UAE and beyond. The Treasury report underscores his use of a web of shell enterprises and shipping registries in jurisdictions such as Hong Kong, Singapore, the UAE, Italy and Switzerland to obscure true control of assets. The network's operations align with broader patterns observed in Iran's so‑called 'ghost fleet.' Surveillance reports have documented vessels switching flags, deactivating AIS transponders, engaging in ship‑to‑ship oil transfers, blending cargoes mid‑voyage and falsifying bills of lading to evade detection. Such tactics enable covert deliveries to Chinese 'teapot' refineries and other end‑users despite global sanctions. The sanctions also extend to six firms based in India, accused of transacting petroleum and petrochemical goods with Iran worth approximately $220 million. U. S. officials warned these sanctions could strain trade relations and signal serious repercussions for firms ignoring sanctions diplomacy ][5]). While the sanctions are intended to sever the flow of funds financing Iran's nuclear, ballistic missile and proxy capabilities, U. S. officials stopped short of declaring they will destabilise global oil markets. Still, they emphasised that the network's disruption would make it 'much more difficult' for Tehran to covertly maintain oil sales via front companies and intermediaries. Ali Shamkhani, previously sanctioned by the U. S. in 2020, remains a key figure in Iran's security establishment. Serving as a naval officer, former defence minister and head of the Supreme National Security Council until May 2023, he assumed the role of adviser to the supreme leader thereafter. His son's oil empire is widely seen as an extension of those elite institutional networks. Industry observers say the sanctions package highlights the increasing difficulty in enforcing international measures against Iran's evolving evasion networks. The complexity, scale and global reach of Shamkhani's operations underscore the challenge of identifying and intercepting entities that operate invisibly across jurisdictional lines.

As Singapore celebrates its 60th Birthday, Amex's Shop Small Movement Rallies Around Local Businesses for the Sixth Year
As Singapore celebrates its 60th Birthday, Amex's Shop Small Movement Rallies Around Local Businesses for the Sixth Year

Zawya

time31-07-2025

  • Zawya

As Singapore celebrates its 60th Birthday, Amex's Shop Small Movement Rallies Around Local Businesses for the Sixth Year

SINGAPORE - Media OutReach Newswire - 31 July 2025 - American Express today announced the launch of the Shop Small movement for the sixth year in Singapore, part of its global flagship initiative to support local businesses. As part of this initiative, from 1 to 31 August, eligible American Express Card Members who enrol in the Shop Small offer on the Amex app or website will get S$3 back for every S$10 spent at about 3,500 participating businesses, up to five times [1]. Mr Marlin Brown, Country Manager for American Express Singapore said, "We're pleased to continue supporting local businesses through Shop Small, which encourages shoppers to engage both with the businesses they know and love and new ones that make their local communities special. "With Singapore marking its 60th birthday this year, it's a meaningful moment to recognize the contribution of local businesses to our communities. With the acceptance of American Express Cards on Singapore's public transport and Shop Small, Card Members will enjoy a seamless experience as they commute and shop, while encouraging more footfall for local businesses." For participating Shop Small businesses, the opportunity to reach out to new audiences has helped fuel their growth. Ms Charmaine Toh, Director of Cathay Photo, a retailer and distributor of photography and professional video equipment, said, "At Cathay Photo, we've worked with American Express for over 50 years. Since our establishment in 1959, we've built a passionate and loyal community. Through the Shop Small movement, we've managed to further grow this community by connecting with new audiences that understand the importance of supporting local businesses that prioritise quality and service." American Express is backing local businesses in other ways. American Express is an Official Partner of F1 ACADEMY TM and is shining a light on female athletes alongside local female-led businesses. During the Singapore Grand Prix from 3 to 5 October 2025, a local female-owned Shop Small business will be selected and prominently featured on the American Express-branded F1 ACADEMY livery. The 2025 F1 ACADEMY races are broadcasted in over 160 territories and streamed live worldwide – which will help the featured local business expand their reach and exposure globally. [1] Learn more about the offer at Terms and conditions apply. Hashtag: #Amex The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. About Shop Small Shop Small is a national movement founded by American Express in 2010 in the US to ignite passion for small and local businesses, call attention to the valuable contributions they make to their communities and the economy and encourage shoppers to support them. Learn more at About American Express American Express (NYSE: AXP) is a global payments and premium lifestyle brand powered by technology. Our colleagues around the world back our customers with differentiated products, services and experiences that enrich lives and build business success. Founded in 1850 and headquartered in New York, American Express' brand is built on trust, security, and service, and a rich history of delivering innovation and Membership value for our customers. With over a hundred million merchant locations across our global network, we seek to provide the world's best customer experience every day to a broad range of consumers, small and medium-sized businesses, and large corporations. For more information about American Express, visit and American Express

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store