The U.S. Sanctions Five Members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Over 'Assassination Plots' Outside Iran

On Thursday, June 1, the U.S. Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned five members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and an organization affiliated with the Quds Force for their involvement in a series of 'terrorist plots, including plans to assassinate officials of the previous U.S. government, American citizens, dual nationals, and Iranian dissidents.' Brian Nelson, the U.S. Deputy Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, stated that the U.S. will continue to expose and thwart the IRGC and Quds Force's plans to carry out 'violent and terroristic actions aimed at silencing human rights defenders and the freedoms of the people of Iran, as well as assassinating opponents of the Iranian government.' U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken also tweeted regarding this matter, stating, 'We will continue to expose and disrupt the IRGC's foreign violence, including plots against American citizens and officials.' According to him, 'Today we sanctioned five IRGC operatives and an Iranian airline involved in these plots.' The sanctioned individuals include Mohammad Reza Ansari and Shahram Pour-Safi: Mohammad Reza Ansari, a veteran member of the Quds Force and supporter of the group's activities in Syria, is part of an operational unit tasked with conducting covert operations outside Iran, including gathering intelligence and carrying out deadly operations against Iranian and non-Iranian opponents of the Islamic Republic worldwide, including in the U.S., Middle East, Europe, and Africa. Mohammad Reza Ansari, with the help of Shahram Pour-Safi, planned the assassination of two officials from the previous U.S. government. In August 2022, Pour-Safi was charged by the U.S. Department of Justice with preparing an international assassination plot and providing financial support for it. He has also been active in designing plots and intelligence operations for the Quds Force in the Caucasus region. Hossein Hafez Amini and Ray Aviation Services: This dual Iranian-Turkish citizen based in Turkey is a member of a Quds Force network in Turkey. Using his connections in the Turkish aviation industry and his airline company in the country, named 'Ray Aviation Import and Export Industry and Trade Company,' he has assisted the Quds Force's covert operations, including kidnapping and assassination plots against regime opponents in Turkey. This Quds Force member has also leveraged his network in Turkey to support the Quds Force through aircraft rentals and smuggling operations. Rouhollah Bazghandi: The former head of the counterintelligence section of the IRGC Intelligence Organization, he has been involved in planning and overseeing the organization's operations in Iraq and Turkey, as well as deadly operations against Israeli citizens. He participated in planning assassination operations against journalists and Israeli citizens in Istanbul. Reza Sarraj: The head of the foreign intelligence section of the IRGC Intelligence Organization, he has been involved in the organization's failed operations in Asia and intelligence operations against American citizens. He previously headed the special operations unit of the IRGC Intelligence Organization and was responsible for a series of failed operations against Israeli citizens. As a result of these sanctions, all assets and interests of these individuals in the U.S. will be blocked. Additionally, the assets of any entity that is directly or indirectly 50% or more owned by one or more sanctioned individuals will also be blocked. In recent days, OFAC also sanctioned two Syrian financial services companies that were 'secretly' assisting the Quds Force, the Bashar al-Assad regime, and Hezbollah in Lebanon.