A senior U.S. Treasury official is leaving for the Middle East on Thursday over sanctions against Syria and Iran and anti-money laundering efforts, the Treasury Department said on Wednesday.

In his current 12-day trip, Assistant Secretary of Treasury for Terrorist Financing Daniel Glaser will visit Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Israel and the United Arab Emirates.

He will discuss "a range of topics" with government officials and members of the private sector, including combating the threat of terrorist financing, the need to strengthen anti-money laundering regimes, and efforts to implement sanctions against the Syrian and Iranian governments, the Treasury said in a statement.

"Assistant Secretary Glaser's trip will continue Treasury's cooperation with our partners around the world to combat the global threat posed by terrorist financing and money laundering as well as efforts to maintain a transparent, stable and well- regulated financial sector throughout the Middle East," the agency said.

"He will also highlight the need for governments and financial sectors to remain vigilant against attempts by the Syrian and Iranian regimes to evade multilateral sanctions," it added.

President Barack Obama on Tuesday gave the Treasury authority to identify those who help the Syrian and Iranian governments evade the sanctions and bar them from access to the U.S. financial and economic sectors.

Senior Treasury officials have made regular visits to the region over sanctions against Syria and Iran and efforts to disrupt terrorist financing and money laundering.