US Treasury Under Secretary to Address Daesh Financing With Turkey, France

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — Acting US Treasury Undersecretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Adam Szubin will visit Turkey and France next week in an effort to block financing for Daesh terrorist group, the US Department of the Treasury announced in a press release.

"Discussions will focus on combating ISIL [Daesh] financing, as well as broader illicit finance and security issues of mutual concern," the release stated on Wednesday.

NATO member Turkey has been severely criticized for accepting oil from Daesh and selling it at discounted prices, providing a major source of financing for the terrorist group.

The Islamic State, also known as Daesh, is a designated terrorist group outlawed in the United States and Russia as well as in numerous other countries. The group has acquired vast areas of land in Syria and Iraq and proclaimed a caliphate there ruled under strict interpretation of the Islamic Sharia law.

US relations with Iran are also on the agenda, as the United States prepares to honour its commitment to waive nuclear-related sanctions as part of the nuclear agreement concluded with Tehran last July, according to the release. The package of sanctions relief includes the release of up to $150 billion in Iranian assets frozen following the 1979 Islamic revolution.

The visits will take place February 1-4.