US Treasury Sanctions Canadian Money Firms Over Alleged Iran Ties

The US Treasury Department dropped a fresh batch of Iran-linked sanctions on Friday, targeting money-service businesses north of the border. The designations hit Diverse Trade Inc., Nia Nations Currency Ltd., Darvish Exchange, CCC Inc. and B. Galaxy Inc., along with several other companies based in Ontario and British Columbia. Washington accuses them of involvement in or support for Iran.

The move lands in the middle of a delicate diplomatic stretch. US and Iranian negotiators are still talking through Qatari mediators, and Qatar's Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim al-Thani, said Friday that a

That pressure campaign is running alongside hints of a possible off-ramp. The Times of Israel reported Friday, citing a US official familiar with the matter, that Tehran is weighing options to curb its nuclear program to keep negotiations moving. Qatari mediators reportedly floated the proposal during last week's talks, and it would not require total dismantlement of the program — though it does address stockpiled enriched uranium. Washington is said to be ready to hand over significant sanctions relief if Iran meets the demands.

Iran isn't standing still on the military front either. The Telegraph reported Friday, citing an Iranian official, that Moscow and Tehran are discussing a supply of advanced S-400 air defense systems, with Iranian officials optimistic after Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei's security chief Mohsen Rezaei met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow. The two also reportedly discussed building a gas pipeline between Russia and Iran.

President Donald Trump weighed in Friday on Truth Social, claiming that

Israel and, in fact, the entire Middle East, WOULD NOT EXIST TODAY if I did not stop Iran from having a Nuclear Weapon,