U.S. Treasury: Anyone Who Deals with the IRGC Must Accept the Risks

The U.S. Treasury's Deputy Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence states that since Donald Trump's administration began, the department has imposed sanctions on dozens of individuals and entities linked to the IRGC and Iran's missile program; anyone wishing to deal with the IRGC must accept the associated risks. The Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson responded to the new U.S. sanctions, describing them as 'continuation of past wrong policies.' Sigal Mandelker, the U.S. Treasury Deputy Secretary, provided explanations about the department's actions against terrorism and illegal financial activities during a subcommittee meeting of the House Financial Services Committee on November 8. Part of this meeting concerned Iran, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), and its activities. Ms. Mandelker stated that the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) - an agency under the Treasury Department - plays a major role in combating 'terrorist groups and rogue governments' and has increased pressure on Iran and the IRGC in connection with their 'malign activities.' This Treasury official noted that since the new administration took office, the OFAC has imposed seven rounds of new sanctions over the past ten months, targeting a total of 72 individuals in China, Iran, Lebanon, and Ukraine connected to the IRGC, ballistic missile programs, support for terrorism, and human rights violations. Mandelker referenced a speech by Trump a few weeks ago, stating that the OFAC has placed the IRGC under Executive Order 13224, which was issued by George W. Bush in 2001 following the September 11 attacks. Recently, Donald Trump announced his administration's strategy regarding Iran and the IRGC during a speech and also refrained from certifying Tehran's compliance with the JCPOA. This U.S. Treasury official emphasized that the Trump administration is simultaneously advancing its policies against 'North Korea's threatening actions' while addressing 'Iran's malign behaviors.' According to the Deputy Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, the Treasury Department insists that the IRGC is an inseparable part of Iran's economy, lacking transparency, and controls a significant portion of Iran's economy: 'We have told them (trading partners), anyone who deals with entities controlled by the IRGC does so at their own risk and responsibility.' Sigal Mandelker, in part of her remarks during the meeting with lawmakers, named Iran and North Korea as examples of 'very specific and immediate threats.' The Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson on November 8 described the new U.S. sanctions as 'continuation of past wrong policies,' stating that 'especially the new U.S. administration has not yet grasped the realities of the world and the region, seeing themselves in past decades.' Mr. Qasemi further stated that the aim of the sanctions is political and also to create psychological pressure on trading partners with Iran to 'put them at a crossroads.' This Iranian official accused the United States of creating a 'dangerous and complex situation for itself today, as in past decades' in countries like Afghanistan and Iraq. Despite the support of other parties in the nuclear negotiations, as well as European countries and several other Washington allies - except for Israel - Trump refrained from certifying the JCPOA. Nevertheless, U.S. European allies have not hesitated to express concern about Iran's missile programs and several of the Islamic Republic's actions and activities in the region. France, Britain, and Germany, in a joint statement with the U.S., expressed concern about ballistic missile tests in Iran. Iranian officials state that these tests have a 'defensive aspect' and will continue. The U.S. government also considers Iran to be 'the number one state sponsor of terrorism' and has accused Tehran of posing a threat and instability to the West Asia region and the entire world. Iran has denied the accusation of supporting terrorism, stating that the U.S. and its allies in the region are responsible for the 'chaos.' A few days ago, Saudi Arabia, one of Washington's key regional allies, labeled a missile launch from Yemen to Riyadh as 'Iran's doing,' stating it was akin to a 'declaration of war' against Saudi Arabia and that it would respond 'at the right time and place.' Iran has rejected these accusations and has also protested to the United Nations regarding 'statements that resort to force against another country.' The nuclear agreement from two years ago lifted sanctions related to Iran's nuclear program while imposing restrictions on its weapons and ballistic missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads and other issues, including human rights violations.