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"Today's action brings to
light the lethal actions of these individuals, and we call on the
international
community to stand with us in isolating them from the global economy," Levey said.
Under the sanctions, any assets of the four in the United States would
be frozen. Officials acknowledged that those sanctioned were unlikely to
hold major assets or bank accounts in the United States.
The most prominent member of the four was identified as Iranian Brig.
Gen. Ahmad Foruzandeh. Foruzandeh was said to work for the Islamic
Revolutionary Guard Corps.
As commander of the IRGC's Quds Force, Foruzandeh was said to have
directed the assassination of leading Iraqis. The Quds Force provides
training to Hamas,
Hizbullah, Islamic Jihad and other Iranian proxies.
"As of mid-February 2007, Foruzandeh ordered his Iranian intelligence
officers to continue targeting Shia and Sunnis to further sectarian violence
within Iraq," Treasury said. "Foruzandeh is also responsible for planning
training courses in Iran for Iraqi militias, including Sayyid Al Shuhada and
Iraqi Hizbullah, to increase their ability to combat coalition forces.
Officials said the training included courses in guerilla warfare, light
arms, marksmanship, planting improvised explosive devices and firing
anti-aircraft missiles. They said Foruzandeh has sent tens of thousands of
dollars as well as weapons to both Shi'ite and Sunni militias.
"In early-April 2007, Foruzandeh provided $25,000 to help fund military
operations against coalition forces in Salah Eddin Province, Iraq," Treasury
said. "Foruzandeh provided the funds to two men claiming to be members of a
Sunni terrorist organization in Iraq, promising the men additional funds if
they would deliver videos of attacks against coalition forces. Foruzandeh
also offered to deliver weapons to the border, if the two men could
transport the weapons into Iraq in order to fight coalition forces."
Treasury said Foruzandeh has urged Iraqi Hizbullah and other Shi'ite
insurgency groups to kill Teheran's enemies. In a 2005 meeting, he was said
to have identified as targets Iraqi officers intelligence agents, tribal
chiefs and clerics.
Abu Mustafa Al Sheibani was identified as a leader of Shi'ite
insurgents in Iraq supported by IRGC. Treasury said Al Sheibani's network
has contained hundreds of operatives equipped with IEDs, mortars and
Katyusha rockets, and targeted British Army troops in the south.
Another Iranian who came under sanctions was Ismail Hafiz Al Lami, said
to have targeted Shi'ites and Sunnis deemed to have cooperated with the
Iraqi government. Al Lami, also known as Abu Dura, was said to have abducted
Higher Education Ministry employees from their offices in Baghdad in
November 2006.
The Syrian was identified as Mishan Rakin Thamin Al Jaburi, said to
finance insurgency attacks. Al Jaburi, who fled Iraq to Syria in 2006, owns
the Syrian-based Al Zawra television, deemed a supporter of Al Qaida
in Iraq. Al Zawa also came under sanctions.
"Despite being publicly critical of Al Qaida in Iraq [AQI], Al Jaburi is
reported to have provided financial support and services to AQI," Treasury
said. "Al Jaburi worked with an AQI jihadist umbrella organization, the
Mujahadin Shura Council, to fund Sunni extremist operations. Additionally,
Al Jaburi's television station broadcast recruitment videos for AQI's Abu
Bakr Al Sadiq Al Salafi Battalion."
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