Treasury clamps down on insurgent help
WASHINGTON (AP) - January 9, 2008 The Treasury Department's action means that any bank accounts or
other financial assets found in the United States belonging to
those named on Wednesday must be frozen. Americans also are
prohibited from doing business with them.
Ahmed Foruzandeh, a brigadier general in Iran's Revolutionary
Guard Corps' Quds Force was covered by the department's order. The
Quds Force, Iran's special operations unit, is part of the Guard
Corps, the country's military wing. The United States said
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.
"Iran and Syria are fueling violence and destruction in Iraq,"
said Stuart Levey, Treasury's under secretary for terrorism and
financial intelligence. "Iran trains, funds and provides weapons
to violent Shia extremist groups, while Syria provides safe haven
to Sunni insurgents and financiers," Levey said.
Abu Mustafa al-Sheibani, who the U.S. says leads a network of
Shia extremists that provide logistical and material support for
acts of violence in Iraq, also was covered by the department's
order. Ismail Hafiz al Lami, accused of directing acts of violence
against Iraqi civilians, and Mishan Rakin Thamin al-Jaburi also
were covered by the order.
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.
The United States alleges the station has received money from
al-Qaida. The U.S. government says the station has aired coded
messages through patriotic songs to the Sunni terrorist group, the
Islamic Army of Iraq.
The department has the authority to act under an executive order
President Bush signed in July 2007. The order allows the U.S.
government to impose financial sanctions against those that
threaten stability in Iraq.
