US slaps sanctions on Taleban, Iranian supporters

Washington - New US sanctions on Iran's oil exports are set to kick in on November 4.

The US Treasury announced on Tuesday that it has imposed sanctions on eight individuals, including two associated with Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps - Qods Force (IRGC-QF), in an effort to hit Afghanistan's Taleban militants.
The Treasury accused the designated Taleban members of engaging in suicide attacks and other activities in Afghanistan and blamed the Iranians for providing financial and material support for the Taleban, Xinhau reported.

US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin claimed in a statement that Iran was "exploiting Afghanistan to further their destabilising behaviour".

Mnuchin is on a week-long trip to the Middle East with talks on combating terrorist financing and looming Iran sanctions.
Also on Tuesday, the other member nations of the Terrorist Financing Targeting Centre (TFTC), all US Gulf allies, also imposed Taleban-related sanctions.
Saudi Arabia and Bahrain announced Tuesday to add Iran's IRGC to the list of terror-related individuals and organisations, Saudi Press Agency reported.
Washington has intensified its sanctions against Iranian entities and individuals after President Donald Trump's decision to exit the Iran nuclear deal in May, a move that has been widely criticized by the international community.
New US sanctions on Iran's oil exports are set to kick in on November 4.