◢ On Tuesday, the US Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) applied new sanctions on “at least 20 corporations and financial institutions” associated with Bonyad Taavon Basij. While the designation of bonyads has been a common feature of US sanctions policy for over a decade, yesterday’s action reflects a significant break with sanctions policy under the Obama administration. Included among the targeted entities is Parsian Bank, one of Iran’s leading private sector banks and a vital conduit for trade with Europe, especially humanitarian trade.