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U.S. authorities are investigating UniCredit's German unit HVB as part of a global crackdown on possible violations of sanctions on Iran that has already cost Standard Chartered a hefty settlement.

In an emailed statement on Sunday, UniCredit said the New York County District Attorney's Office, the U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control were leading the investigation.

The bank was responding to an earlier report in the Financial Times.

British bank Standard Chartered this month reached a $340 million settlement after the New York Department of Financial Services accused it of concealing $250 billion in Iran transactions.

Separately, U.S. authorities are investigating Royal Bank of Scotland, and Germany's second-largest lender Commerzbank.

Commerzbank warned last week it faced a financial hit to settle the U.S. probes into violations of sanctions on Iran and other countries, which could exceed provisions.

UniCredit mentioned the U.S. probe in a 463-page prospectus for a capital increase in January and in its following financial earnings statements.