U.S. Raises Pressure on Iran With Sanctions on Currency Exchange

In first action since pulling out of nuclear deal, Treasury accuses Iran’s central bank of being complicit in funneling dollars to elite military unit

WASHINGTON—The U.S. Treasury Department on Thursday levied sanctions against several Iranian firms, individuals and officials it said are operating an illegal currency-exchange network in the United Arab Emirates, and accused Iran’s central bank of being complicit in operations that funneled dollars into the country for Iran’s elite military unit, the Quds Force, and Tehran’s regional proxies.

The action, the first since President Donald Trumppulled the U.S. out of the landmark nuclear deal with Iran and Washington began reimposing...