What to Know About Bank Melli, Singled Out in U.S. Call for Economic War

What the report says

The New York Times reports that Bank Melli, Iran’s largest lender, is again in the spotlight after U.S. officials called for tougher economic pressure on Iran. According to the paper’s snippet, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said every foreign branch of the bank must be shut down, reflecting a new push to further constrain an institution that already operates under extensive sanctions.

Bank Melli is a major state-linked financial institution and has long been subject to restrictions that make it difficult to conduct business outside Iran. The article frames the bank as a key part of the country’s financial system, which helps explain why U.S. policymakers view it as a target in broader efforts to limit Iran’s access to the international economy.

The development matters because additional sanctions or branch closures could further isolate Iran’s banking sector and complicate cross-border transactions. While the full article text was not available, the headline and snippet indicate that the discussion centers on Bank Melli’s role in Iran’s economy and on the consequences of expanded U.S. pressure on foreign operations.

This digest is based on the limited source evidence provided by The New York Times and does not add unreported details about the bank’s current operations or the full scope of U.S. measures.