TEL AVIV
Israel classifies Iran's Central Bank as a terrorist entity.
Israel's Defense Minister, Israel Katz, has designated Iran's central bank as a "terrorist organization" on June 25th, 2025. This bold move was taken after requests from the Mossad and the National Bureau for Economic Warfare, as they believe the bank serves as a financial pipeline channeling billions to terrorist groups such as Hezbollah, the Houthis, Iraqi Shiite militias, Hamas, and more.
Katz underscores that this action zeroes in on the financial lifelines of the "ayatollah regime," aiming to strike at the very source of funding for the Iranian terrorist network entangling the Middle East.
Iran and Israel reached a cessation of hostilities on June 24th, concluding a 12-day back-and-forth of offensive actions between the longstanding adversaries. Their clandestine war has been going on for decades, with Israel combatting multiple Iran-backed groups, including Hamas in the Gaza Strip since October 2023.
Israel justified its bombing campaign, initiated on June 13th, as an attempt to hinder Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon, a goal that Tehran has persistently refuted.
After the ceasefire, Eyal Zamir, head of Israel's military, said, "We have concluded a significant phase, but the campaign against Iran is not over. We are transitioning into a new phase, building upon the successes of the previous one."
Experts argue that while this designation carries weight, it may not instantaneously shift the behavior of other nations or enforce existing sanctions, these mainly adhering to the framework established under prior U.S. sanctions regimes. The impact largely relies on global cooperation and the willingness of FATF member nations to enforce restrictions on dealings with Iran's Central Bank, consequently isolating the bank in international financial networks and cutting off a vital financial support root for Iran-backed militant and terrorist organizations.
This designation is a militant signal of Israel's determination to persistently target Iran's regional influence and its terror infrastructure through economic warfare.
- The designation of Iran's central bank as a "terrorist organization" by Israel's Defense Minister, Israel Katz, is a part of broader war-and-conflicts politics, as it aims to cut off financial support to Iranian-backed militant and terrorist organizations such as Hezbollah, the Houthis, Iraqi Shiite militias, Hamas, and more.
- The decision to designate Iran's central bank as a "terrorist organization" is a significant general news item, as it signals Israel's persistent effort to counter Iran's regional influence through economic warfare, relying on global cooperation and the willingness of FATF member nations to enforce restrictions on dealings with Iran's Central Bank.
