The United States moved on Tuesday to freeze the assets of two members of Basque separatist group ETA under an executive order targeting people who commit acts of terrorism or support those who do so.
The State Department named the two as Miguel de Garikoitz Aspiazu Rubina, ETA's suspected military leader also known as "Txeroki," who it said is detained in France on terrorism charges, and Jose Ignacio Reta de Frutos, who it described a fugitive from justice.
"As a result of the designation, all property subject to U.S. jurisdiction in which ETA members Aspiazu Rubina or Reta de Frutos have any interest is blocked and U.S. persons are prohibited from engaging in any transactions with them," the State Department said in a brief statement.
"This action will help stem the flow of financial and other assistance to these ETA members," it added.
Spanish security forces have weakened ETA by arresting many of its key members in recent years, often in cooperation with their French counterparts.
The Spanish government has rejected a call for a new truce by ETA, instead demanding a halt to its armed campaign. ETA has killed more than 850 people in its half-century struggle for an independent Basque homeland.
The United States formally designated ETA as a "foreign terrorist organization" in 1997