U.S. sanctions individuals, companies accused of forging money for Iran

WASHINGTON, Nov. 20 (Xinhua) -- The United States on Monday imposed sanctions on two individuals and four companies accused of counterfeiting money for Iran.

In a statement, the U.S. Treasury Department claimed that Reza Heidari, an Iranian national and Mahmoud Seif, whose nationality remained unknown, used four companies to "circumvent European export control restrictions and procured advanced equipment and materials" to forge Yemeni currency for Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

The sanctions freeze all the assets the designated entities and individuals may hold in the United States and generally prohibit U.S. financial institutions and individuals from doing business with them.