US Offers $15 Million Reward for Identifying IRGC Drone Production Arm

The US Department of State announced in a statement that individuals providing information about senior personnel and the financial network of a drone production arm of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) may qualify for a reward and relocation. According to the announcement on Monday, March 11, the 'Rewards for Justice' program of the US State Department identifies 'Kimiya Part Sivan (Kipas)' as the drone production arm of the IRGC's Quds Force. The program has set a reward of 'up to $15 million' for information about this company and the mentioned individuals. The statement lists 'Abbas Sartaji, Abolfazl Mashkani, Hadi Zowarki, Mehdi Naqneh, Reza Nahardani, and Hassan Arambounjad' as six senior employees of Kipas who have 'played a role in the testing, development, and supply of IRGC drones.' According to the US State Department, 'the IRGC finances part of its international terrorist activities through the sale of drones and other military equipment.' The Rewards for Justice program emphasized that 'if you have information about senior employees, associates, or the financial network of Kipas, please send this information to us through the Tor browser-based communication line provided below. You may be eligible for a reward and relocation.' Previously, the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) of the US Treasury Department had announced sanctions against 16 individuals and two companies involved in the Islamic Republic's drone production program. According to OFAC's statement, those sanctioned are active in the Quds Force of the IRGC and its drone production arm, Kimiya Part Sivan (Kipas), as well as other drone and drone engine manufacturers. According to a previous OFAC statement issued in April 2023, Abbas Sartaji, Mehdi Ghafari Naqneh, Hassan Arambounjad, Hadi Jamshidi Zowarki, Reza Nahardani, and Abolfazl Ramadanzadeh Mashkani are all senior members of the IRGC Quds Force involved in the testing, development, and provision of drones to proxy groups of the Islamic Republic in Iraq, Yemen, and Syria.