The Iranian Revolutionary Guards' Quds Force has been operating a Russian backed oil smuggling network, of which such illegal activities include money laundering. The network is believed to be ran by active and former Quds Force Individuals, and backed by higher level Russian government, former diplomat from Afghanistan, and some Chinese companies.
The U.S. Treasury Department has claimed that hundreds of millions of dollars that have passed through the network have gone on to fund the Quds Force overseas activities, Hezbollah in Lebanon, and other Tehran supported proxy groups.
The Quds Force specifically, is the arm of the Revolutionary Guard in Iran's espionage and paramilitary group and controls various militias around the world. Under the Trump administration, It was the first ever national military to be placed on the State Department's list of foreign terrorist organizations in 2019.
Per Anthony Blinken, U.S. Secretary of State commits the sanctions will not be lifted until Iran returns to the negotiating table over the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action regarding the nuclear deal.
Russia and Iran did not comment when they were contacted regarding the sanctions. China is stating that the Chinese government is always opposed to unilateral sanctions.
Source #1 Reuters
Source #2 U.S. News
Source #3 Wall Street Journal
The U.S. Treasury Department has claimed that hundreds of millions of dollars that have passed through the network have gone on to fund the Quds Force overseas activities, Hezbollah in Lebanon, and other Tehran supported proxy groups.
The Quds Force specifically, is the arm of the Revolutionary Guard in Iran's espionage and paramilitary group and controls various militias around the world. Under the Trump administration, It was the first ever national military to be placed on the State Department's list of foreign terrorist organizations in 2019.
Per Anthony Blinken, U.S. Secretary of State commits the sanctions will not be lifted until Iran returns to the negotiating table over the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action regarding the nuclear deal.
Russia and Iran did not comment when they were contacted regarding the sanctions. China is stating that the Chinese government is always opposed to unilateral sanctions.
Source #1 Reuters
Source #2 U.S. News
Source #3 Wall Street Journal