Bush Administration Freezes Iranian Money

The Bush administration has moved to financially clamp down on a general in Iran's nationally powerful military wing, a Syrian TV station, and three other individuals accused of helping insurgents in Iraq.^[1] The Treasury Department's action means that any bank accounts or other financial assets found in the United States belonging to those named must be frozen, and Americans also are prohibited from doing business with them.^[2]

Ahmed Foruzandeh, a brigadier general in Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps' Quds Force was one of the people named in the department's order.^[3] The Quds Force, Iran's special operations unit, is part of the Guard Corps, the country's military wing.^[4] The United States asserts that Foruzandeh and his associates provided financial and material support for violent acts against U.S.-led coalition forces in Iraq as well as Iraqi security forces.^[5]

''Iran and Syria are fueling violence and destruction in Iraq….Iran trains, funds and provides weapons to violent Shia extremist groups, while Syria provides safe haven to Sunni insurgents and financiers,'' said Stuart Levey, Treasury's under secretary for terrorism and financial intelligence.^[6]

Also mentioned in the order was Abu Mustafa al-Sheibani, the asserted leader of a network of Shia extremists that provide logistical and material support for acts of violence in Iraq; Ismail Hafiz al Lami, accused of directing acts of violence against Iraqi civilians, and Mishan Rakin Thamin al-Jaburi.^[7]

Al-Zawra TV station in Syria, which the U.S. says is owned and controlled by al-Jaburi, also was named in the department's order; it has been alleged the station has received money from al-Qaida, and has aired coded messages through patriotic songs to the Sunni terrorist group, the Islamic Army of Iraq.^[8]

Federal criminal defense attorney Douglas McNabb has previously discussed the growing national security issues in Iran, here.

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^[1] Jeannine Aversa, U.S. Moves to Freeze Assets of Iranian Military Quds Force General, Syrian TV Station, Associated Press Newswire, January 9, 2008, available at LEXIS, News Library, Wire News Services.
^[2] Id.
^[3] Id.
^[4] Id.
^[5] Id.
^[6] Id.
^[7] Id.
^[8] Id.