US Imposes Fresh Sanctions on Russian FinTech Firm A7 Over Alleged Iran Evasion Network

The US Treasury Department announced new penalties on Thursday targeting the Russian financial company A7, alleging that the firm has actively assisted Iran in evading international sanctions.

According to a statement released by the Treasury Department, the FinTech firm engineered a complex network of companies based in third countries to help Iran and other sanctioned entities bypass US restrictions. Washington stated that the A7 Network established a web of sub-agents designed to disguise payments linked to sanctioned individuals and sectors as routine commercial activities.

“In addition, A7 Network sub-agents have been used to facilitate Iranian oil sales and weapons procurement efforts,” the Treasury reported, detailing how the company interacted with entities involved in Iran's “shadow fleet” network that transports and sells restricted oil.

Recent reports from The New York Times and The Financial Times revealed that the Kremlin-backed FinTech company has funneled over $6.9 billion through the international financial system despite existing sanctions against Russia. Portions of the A7 network previously faced punitive measures in 2025.

The Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control designated the A7 Network as a significant transnational criminal organization. This classification applies to groups engaging in serious transnational criminal patterns that threaten US national security, foreign policy, or the economy. Data from the department indicated that by January 2026, the A7 Network processed upwards of 2,000 transactions daily, totaling over 7.5 trillion roubles—representing approximately 13 percent of Russia's 2025 foreign trade transactions.

Thursday's enforcement action is part of Washington's “Operation Economic Outcast,” a campaign led by the Trump administration to exert maximum economic pressure on Tehran amid stalled diplomatic efforts. The United States has previously threatened to bar any companies or countries engaging in ongoing commerce with Iran from accessing the dollar-based global financial system.

“Today’s action targeting A7 continues Treasury’s unprecedented efforts to isolate Iran and its financial enablers and sends a clear message that if you facilitate illicit finance for America’s adversaries, you will lose access to the US financial system,” said Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.

Alongside the penalties on A7, the Treasury Department also introduced measures targeting segments of Iran's industrial infrastructure, including its automotive, mining, and rail sectors.