Israel’s defence minister designated Iran’s central bank a “terror organisation”, saying the move was aimed at halting financing for Iran-backed groups, AFP reports.

Minister Israel Katz “signed a special order designating Iran’s central bank, two additional Iranian banks (and) an Iranian armed forces-affiliated company… as terror organisations,” a statement from his office said.

“Part of Israel’s broader campaign against Iran”, the move aims “to target the heart of the Iranian regime’s terror financing system, which funds, arms and directs terror throughout the Middle East,” it added.