U.S. Targets Iran’s Central Bank

January 4, 2012

Author: 

Carol E. Lee and Keith Johnson

Publication: 

Wall Street Journal

President Barack Obama signed into law sanctions penalizing foreign financial institutions that do business with Iran's central bank. Part of the 2012 National Defense Authorization Act, the sanctions target anyone doing business with Iran's central bank, Bank Markazi. Some measures will begin to take effect in 60 days. Other measures, including those involving transactions from "governments purchasing Iranian oil and selling petroleum products," won't take effect for at least six months.