The United States has imposed sanctions on Iranian cryptocurrency exchange Nobitex, the country's largest digital asset platform, along with several individuals linked to it, the Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) said on June 2.

Nobitex, also known as Rahkar Fanavari Nooyan and based in the Sharif Technology Tower in Tehran, was added to OFAC's Specially Designated Nationals list under counterterrorism and Iran-related authorities. The designation falls under Executive Order 13224 and Executive Order 13902.

Three individuals connected to the exchange were added to the list. They include Mohammad Aghamir Mohammad Ali and Ali Aghamir Mohammad Ali, both also known under the Kharrazi name, and Ali Khoee. A fourth Iranian, Amir Hossein Rad of Qazvin, was designated with an email address registered to the Nobitex domain.

OFAC also designated three other Iranian crypto platforms, Ramzinex, Wallex and Bitpin, under Iran-related authorities. Bitpin operates from the Anzali Free Zone in Gilan province, while Ramzinex is also based in the Sharif Technology Tower.

The platforms were listed as subject to secondary sanctions, exposing foreign firms that deal with them to potential US penalties.

OFAC issued a new Iran-related Frequently Asked Question, numbered 1257, alongside the designations.

The action also covered two individuals linked to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, listed under a separate sanctions programme.