Editing Clearstream (section)

== Clearstream and Iranian oil revenues ==
In the late 2000s, it was revealed that Clearstream held approximately $2.8 billion in securities on behalf of the [[Central Bank of Iran]] (CBI) through an account in the United States. This arrangement potentially violated U.S. sanctions against Iran, leading to legal scrutiny.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2025-02-08 |title=Treasury Department Reaches Landmark $152 Million Settlement with Clearstream Banking, S.A. |url=https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/jl2264?utm_ |access-date=2025-05-06 |website=U.S. Department of the Treasury |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Clearstream |url=https://www.unitedagainstnucleariran.com/company/clearstream?utm_ |access-date=2025-05-06 |website=UANI |language=en}}</ref>

In 2014, Clearstream agreed to a $152 million settlement with the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) for these violations. The settlement addressed Clearstream's role in providing the Iranian government with unauthorized access to the U.S. financial system by holding securities for the CBI.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=U.S. Executive Order: New sanctions against Iran |url=https://www.clearstream.com/clearstream-en/securities-services/settlement/u-s-executive-order-new-sanctions-against-iran-1297410 |access-date=2025-05-06 |website=www.clearstream.com}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=2014-03-13 |title=Clearstream Banking Pays $151.9 Million for Transferring Funds to Iran through the U.S. |url=https://www.learnexportcompliance.com/clearstream-banking-pays-151-9-million-for-transferring-funds-to-iran-through-the-u-s/?utm_ |access-date=2025-05-06 |website=Export Compliance Training Institute |language=en-US}}</ref>

=== Legal Disputes Over Frozen Iranian Assets ===
Beyond the settlement, Clearstream has been embroiled in ongoing legal disputes concerning Iranian assets frozen under international sanctions. In 2008, approximately $4.9 billion in Iranian assets were frozen by Clearstream following U.S. pressure. Subsequent legal actions have sought to release or claim these funds.<ref name=":2">{{Cite news |last=Schmid |first=Fidelius |date=2025-03-06 |title=Military Funding: Iran Seeks to Access Billions in Frozen Hard Currency |url=https://www.spiegel.de/international/world/military-funding-iran-seeks-to-access-billions-in-frozen-hard-currency-a-d9fbf1de-e5a4-4a59-a845-b52469203aa1?utm_ |access-date=2025-05-06 |work=Der Spiegel |language=en |issn=2195-1349}}</ref>

Notably, in 2018, Iran's central bank sued Clearstream to recover the frozen assets. However, U.S. courts have ruled in favor of using portions of these funds to compensate victims of terrorist attacks attributed to Iranian-backed entities, such as the 1983 bombing of the U.S. Marine barracks in Beirut.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /><ref name=":3">{{Cite news |date=2025 |title=Iran seeks frozen funds in Europe after military setbacks - Der Spiegel |url=https://www.iranintl.com/en/202503065055?utm_}}</ref>

=== Involvement of Sepehr Energy ===
Sepehr Energy, an Iranian state-affiliated oil company, has been implicated in efforts to access the frozen funds held by Clearstream. Reports indicate that executives from Sepehr Energy have been involved in legal and diplomatic initiatives aimed at reclaiming these assets. The company has also been sanctioned by the U.S. for allegedly facilitating oil sales that fund Iran's military and associated groups.<ref name=":2" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Nava |first=Victor |date=2025-02-07 |title=Trump admin sanctions ‘front company’ selling oil to China to allegedly fund Iranian military and terrorist groups |url=https://nypost.com/2025/02/06/us-news/trump-admin-sanctions-front-company-selling-oil-to-china-to-allegedly-fund-iranian-military-and-terrorist-groups/?utm_ |access-date=2025-05-06 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":3" />