Trump's latest Iran sanctions target $200B economic empire of supreme leader

The Trump administration's latest sanctions against Iran reinstate an embargo on some of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei's front companies that President Barack Obama lifted as part of the nuclear deal and could further expose the Iranian dictator's corrupt economic empire.

Khamenei oversees a vast network of corporate and financial assets worth $200 billion, the Foundation for Defense of Democracies estimates. Trump signed an executive order this week giving the Treasury Department broad powers to sanction Khamenei, those tied to him, and anyone doing business with him.

"Today's actions follow a series of aggressive behaviors by the Iranian regime in recent weeks, including shooting down of U.S. drones," Trump said Monday. "The supreme leader of Iran is one who ultimately is responsible of the hostile conduct of the regime. He's respected within his country. His office oversees the regime's most brutal instruments including the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps."

Read the full article and more in The Washington Examiner.