The U.S. Sanctions IRGC Intelligence Organization and Four of Its Commanders

The United States has sanctioned the Intelligence Organization of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and four of its senior commanders for their roles in the detention of American citizens. Two senior U.S. officials announced on Thursday, April 26, that less than a year after President Joe Biden issued an executive order to intensify efforts to bring back hostages and American citizens unjustly imprisoned in other countries, the U.S. has placed the IRGC Intelligence Organization and four of its commanders on the sanctions list under the "Robert Levinson Hostage Recovery and Accountability Act" due to their involvement in the detention of American citizens. According to the Biden administration officials, the individuals named include Mohammad Kazemi, head of the IRGC Intelligence Organization, as well as Sayyari, Mohagheghi, and Bazghandi. The officials stated that the IRGC Intelligence Organization and these individuals are directly or indirectly responsible for ordering, controlling, or directing the wrongful detention of U.S. nationals. The IRGC Intelligence Organization has repeatedly interrogated American citizens unjustly detained in Evin Prison, and this organization and its members have a long history of human rights violations, including widespread reports of torture. U.S. officials continued that the IRGC intelligence personnel are also responsible for providing tools and equipment for espionage and assassination operations and played a key role in suppressing protests, detaining regime opponents, and civil society activists. The press conference also announced that the Russian intelligence organization has been sanctioned as well. In response to a question from the Persian section of Voice of America regarding criticism from some families of Iranian-American prisoners that President Biden has not yet met with them, the officials stated that the President is making significant efforts to resolve these families' issues as soon as possible, and this is a priority for him. However, just as the President has not been able to meet with leaders of all countries with which the U.S. has relations, this lack of meetings does not negatively impact his administration's efforts to bring back the loved ones of these families. They noted that the establishment of a hostage recovery office at the State Department or a similar office at the FBI is evidence of this claim. Siamak Namazi, Morad Tahbaz, and Emad Sharqi are among the dual nationals whom the Islamic Republic has accused of espionage and imprisoned. In addition to these individuals, several citizens from some European countries are also imprisoned in Iran under similar accusations. According to a statement released by the U.S. Treasury Department on Thursday regarding this matter, the sanctioned individuals are: Mohammad Kazemi: has been the commander of the IRGC Intelligence Organization since June 2022. He has played a role in suppressing civil society in Iran and detaining dual nationals. Kazemi also oversaw the brutal suppression of protests following the death of Mahsa (Zhina) Amini. Mohammad Mehdi Sayyari: he is the deputy commander of the IRGC Intelligence Organization and has played a direct role in imprisoning foreign citizens. Rouhollah Bazghandi: he is responsible for counter-espionage within the IRGC Intelligence Organization and has played a role in the detention of dual nationals. He has also been involved in the organization's operations in Syria and in planning the assassination of journalists and Israeli citizens. Mohammad Hassan Mohagheghi: he is the deputy commander of the IRGC Intelligence Organization and reports to several senior IRGC commanders about the organization's operations. He has also been a liaison between senior IRGC commanders and the IRGC Intelligence Organization in counter-espionage operations in Syria.