Iran broke? $25bn oil loss, $350m crypto frozen as militias send money back to IRGC
US Central Command reports that Iran is facing severe financial distress due to a naval blockade and frozen cryptocurrency assets. The economic pressure has reportedly forced Iranian-backed militias to withhold soldier salaries to funnel funds back to the IRGC.
Why it matters
The financial strain on Iran highlights the effectiveness of current US sanctions and naval strategies in curbing regional proxy activities and nuclear ambitions.
Iran is facing mounting financial pressure after nine months of war, with a US naval blockade costing it $25 billion in lost oil revenue and $350 million in cryptocurrency frozen, according to US Central Command (CENTCOM) chief Adm Brad Cooper.In a video message released on Friday, Cooper said Iran-backed groups across the region, including Hezbollah, Hamas and Shia militias in Iraq, were sending money back to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which has funded them for years."The financial strain on Iran's military has become so significant that there are reports about Iran-aligned militia groups across the region withholding payments for their soldiers in order to funnel money back to the IRGC, which also isn't paying its troops," Cooper said.He added that the Iranian government was withholding salaries, pensions and benefits from public sector workers, including internal security personnel and members of the IRGC.The financial squeeze comes as the Trump…
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