The United States, represented by President Donald Trump, declared an expansion of existing sanctions that will now encompass additional Iranian individuals and organisations, as well as entities linked to the Houthi movement in Yemen's capital, Sanaa. The move was reported by Al Jazeera, which noted that the sanctions aim to curb financial channels that support armed activities in the region.
According to the statement released by the U.S. Treasury Department, the new measures target a list of Iranian banks, trading companies, and logistics firms accused of facilitating the procurement of weapons and technology for proxy forces. Parallelly, the sanctions extend to several Houthi-affiliated groups operating in Yemen, which the United States alleges receive material support from Tehran.
The announcement comes as the broader conflict involving Iran, its regional allies, and opposing forces continues to intensify. Al Jazeera highlighted that the sanctions are part of a coordinated effort by Washington to pressure Tehran and its allies to cease support for armed groups that destabilise the Middle East. The Treasury Department indicated that any assets under U.S. jurisdiction belonging to the designated parties will be frozen, and U.S. persons are prohibited from conducting transactions with them.
The Yemeni government, based in exile, welcomed the sanctions, describing them as a necessary step to weaken the Houthi insurgency that has controlled large parts of the country since 2014. Iranian officials, however, have previously dismissed U.S. sanctions as illegitimate and have warned of retaliatory measures.
International observers noted that the expanded sanctions could have broader economic repercussions, potentially affecting trade routes and humanitarian aid flows in the region. Al Jazeera reported that humanitarian organisations are urging the United States to ensure that the sanctions do not impede the delivery of essential supplies to civilians in conflict‑affected areas.
The United States has signalled that it will monitor compliance closely and may introduce further restrictions if evidence of continued illicit activity emerges. The announcement marks the latest escalation in a series of diplomatic and economic actions aimed at curbing Iran's regional influence.
Reporting attribution: based on reporting by Al Jazeera — All News — original source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2026/9/19/iran-war-live-trump-extends-sanctions-on-iran-houthi-supporters-in-sanaa?traffic_source=rss.