Lebanon’s central bank this week revoked the operating licence of Export Bank of
Iran’s Lebanese branch, saying the move aims to shield the domestic banking
system from potential contagion risk, central bank governor Karim Souaid said.
The action follows similar tightening by UAE and Turkey as the US intensifies
pressure on Iran’s financial links. Export Bank of Iran, one of Iran’s oldest
commercial banks with multiple overseas branches, was among US‑sanctioned
Iranian banks whose new licence applications were rejected by the UK last month;
the bank formerly operated a London branch near the Bank of England.
