U.S. Sanctions Russia-Linked A7 Network Over Iran Ties

The measures, announced under Operation Economic Outcast, combine sanctions against the Russia-linked A7 Network with proposed restrictions on its payment intermediaries. The Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control designated A7 as a major transnational criminal organization.

The OFAC designation blocks A7 property and property interests within U.S. jurisdiction or controlled by U.S. persons. It also restricts transactions involving the network and blocked property.

The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network separately proposed prohibiting funds transfers involving A7 sub-agents. The proposal will be open for public comment for 30 days after publication in the Federal Register. FinCEN also issued an alert with indicators to help financial institutions identify and report suspected A7-related activity.

FinCEN traced more than $17 billion in transactions processed globally by A7 sub-agents between January 2025 and June 2026. The intermediaries operate through companies in third-country jurisdictions, receiving and sending payments for the network.

According to Treasury documents, A7 uses falsified trade documents, altered import and export records, and inaccurate descriptions of goods to make illicit payments appear to be linked to legitimate commerce. A7 personnel control some sub-agents’ websites and bank accounts and use custom-built virtual private networks to conceal their locations.

One sub-agent and a related company received nearly $140 million from entities linked to Iranian sanctions evasion. The sub-agent also conducted transactions with organizations tied to Iran’s oil-shipping shadow fleet. Another sub-agent transferred about $1.6 million to a company connected to Iranian sanctions evasion and weapons procurement.

Treasury investigators also linked A7 to cryptocurrency activity. The network includes Old Vector LLC, the issuer of the ruble-backed A7A5 token, which OFAC sanctioned in August 2025. Treasury officials attributed the token’s creation to efforts to help network members bypass sanctions, conduct international transactions and generate revenue for sanctioned infrastructure providers.

Authorities connected A7 to Nobitex, described by Treasury as Iran’s largest digital asset exchange. OFAC designated Nobitex on June 2, 2026. Treasury also linked A7 to transactions involving hacks of North Korean cryptocurrency exchanges.

U.S. persons are prohibited from conducting transactions involving A7 or its blocked property. FinCEN’s proposed restrictions will remain subject to the public comment process before any final rule takes effect.