OFAC Sanctions Hizballah Officials
The Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control announced sanctions on three Iran-backed Hizballah and Lebanese government officials who helped “bolster Iran’s malign activities,” Treasury said in a July 9 press release. The announcement came two days after the State Department threatened more Iran sanctions in response to the country breaching the enriched uranium limit set in the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (see 1907080019).
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The sanctioned officials include Hizballah security official Wafiq Safa and Lebanon Parliament members Amin Sherri and Muhammad Hasan Ra’d, all of whom acted on behalf of Hizballah, Treasury said.
“Hizballah uses its operatives in Lebanon’s Parliament to manipulate institutions in support of the terrorist group’s financial and security interests, and to bolster Iran’s malign activities,” Sigal Mandelker, Treasury undersecretary for terrorism and financial intelligence, said in a statement. “The United States will continue to support efforts of the Lebanese government to protect its institutions from exploitation by Iran and its terrorist proxies, and to secure a more peaceful and prosperous future for Lebanon.”
Treasury said Sherri uses his position in Lebanon's Parliament to “advance Hizballah's objectives, which often run counter to the benefit of the Lebanese people and government.” Sherri threatened Lebanese bank officials and their families after the bank froze accounts of a U.S.-sanctioned Hizballah member, Treasury said.
Along with being a Parliament member, Ra’d is a member of Hizballah’s Shura Council, which is involved in overseas military and terrorist attacks, the press release said. Ra’d also collaborated with Hizballah businessmen to “ensure Hizballah's funding mechanisms would remain open despite sanctions,” Treasury said.
Safa works as an “interlocutor” between Hizballah and Lebanese security forces, Treasury said, and has “exploited Lebanon's ports and border crossings to smuggle contraband and facilitate travel” for Hizballah. Safa has smuggled “illegal drugs and weapons” through Beirut, the press release said, and Hizballah “specifically routed certain shipments through Safa to avoid scrutiny.”