US seized $1 billion in Iranian crypto assets under 'Operation Economic Fury

New Delhi ( Vivek Ojha ) : US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Friday said Washington has seized nearly $1 billion in Iranian cryptocurrency assets as part of its ongoing economic pressure campaign against Tehran.

Speaking on Fox Business’ Kudlow programme during the Reagan National Economic Forum, Bessent said the Trump administration’s sanctions and asset seizure efforts under “Operation Economic Fury” have significantly weakened Iran’s finances. Bessent said the US had directly taken control of Iranian-linked cryptocurrency wallets worth around $1 billion.

The figure represents the cumulative amount seized through multiple actions rather than a single operation. It includes a $344 million freeze of Tether (USDT) on the Tron blockchain in late April 2026, with total seizures later reported to have approached $500 million before increasing further.

Launched in March 2025, Operation Economic Fury is aimed at disrupting Iran’s financial networks through sanctions, asset seizures and international cooperation.