US Citizens Become Collateral Damage in Global Sanctions Fight

Like thousands of Americans of Iranian origin, Salehi says he’s become collateral damage in Washington’s surging use of financial sanctions to punish global enemies. Lawyers and consumer advocates say US banks are increasingly reluctant to handle even seemingly benign transactions for customers with links to countries covered by the restrictions, fearing huge fines from regulators. The banks say they aren’t discriminating, arguing that regulators give conflicting messages on complex and frequently changing rules. Wells Fargo says it “followed internal policies and procedures” in assessing Salehi’s account.