The U.S. Sanctions Six Individuals and Three Iranian Companies

The U.S. Treasury Department announced that it has added six individuals and three Iranian entities to its sanctions list for allegedly transferring millions of dollars to the Quds Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. The Treasury stated that it is working with the United Arab Emirates to disrupt the Iranian Central Bank's access to foreign currency reserves in foreign banks. Masoud Nikbakht, Saeed Najafpour, and Hassan Khodai are the three individuals added to the sanctions list. According to the Treasury's statement, Masoud Nikbakht is an official member of the Quds Force who has collaborated with Miqdad Amini, a currency trader. Saeed Najafpour is the CEO of Jahan Aras Kish, a shell company associated with the IRGC. Hassan Khodai has also worked with Mohammad Reza Khedmati, another currency trader who has collaborated with IRGC shell companies for money transfers. Mohammad Reza Khedmati Valdzaqard, Miqdad Amini, and Foad Salehi are also among the other sanctioned individuals. The Treasury stated that these individuals have been sanctioned for their supportive, service, and financial activities for the Quds Force. The three sanctioned Iranian companies are Jahan Aras Kish, Rashid Exchange, and the cooperative company of Mohammad Reza Khedmati and partners. The Treasury's statement indicated that the mentioned individuals have pursued their activities through these three companies. U.S. Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin stated on Friday, "The Iranian regime and the Central Bank have exploited the organizations of the United Arab Emirates to obtain U.S. dollars and direct them to the Quds Force and its nefarious goals." The statement added that among these activities is the provision of money and weapons to Iranian proxies in the region, and they have taken these actions by concealing the purpose for which U.S. dollars were obtained. The Treasury has sanctioned these six individuals and three entities under laws related to controlling activities suspected of being linked to terrorism. The U.S. Treasury's Twitter account shared a diagram of how these individuals collaborated. This is the first sanctions action by the U.S., two days after Donald Trump's order for the U.S. to withdraw from the nuclear agreement known as the JCPOA. A Reuters report states that Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is consulting in Europe, Asia, and the Middle East to reinstate sanctions on Iran and compel Tehran to return to the negotiating table regarding its nuclear and missile programs. Reuters also reported in 2015 that one billion dollars in cash was illegally transferred to Iran despite U.S. sanctions. Sources from Reuters stated that Iran had brought this money to Iran through shell companies and currency exchanges in Dubai and Iraq. The report indicates that the Iranian Central Bank has cooperated with other entities, including sanctioned Iranian entities, to find ways to transfer money through shell companies and networks. The report also stated that it is the Iranian Central Bank that has instructed these shell companies abroad to purchase dollars. According to Reuters, prior to the signing of the JCPOA nuclear agreement, many Iranian companies and entities in Dubai facilitated the transfer of money to Iran. The U.S. had stated that with its withdrawal from the JCPOA, it would give three and six months for economic activities with Iran to cease.