The U.S. State Department’s diplomatic anti-terrorism compensation program announced last night that it was offering a reward of up to $ 15 million for information that would lead to “thwarting the financial mechanisms of the Revolutionary Guards and its arms.” The statement said: “The Revolutionary Guards have funded many terrorist attacks and terrorist activities around the world. Today they are leading Iran’s terrorist activities outside the country through branches such as Hamas, Hezbollah and Iran – backed by militias in Iraq.”
REWARD! ????Up to $15M for information that helps disrupt IRGC’s financial networks. IRGC-QF conducts its terrorist activities around the globe via proxies, and uses various financial means to bypass U.S. sanctions. Have relevant info? SEND US A TIP! https://t.co/srGB4SioPt pic.twitter.com/NuN3hLOr9S
— Rewards for Justice (@RFJ_USA) June 12, 2022
In the past, the Rewards Program has awarded a prize for information about bodies or individuals assisting the Revolutionary Guards and Hezbollah. For example, $ 10 million for information about Hezbollah’s representative in Iran, Ali Kassir. According to the US State Department, Kassir is a major promoter of financial and commercial activities beneficial to the Quds Force. He is also a nephew of Muhammad Kasir, a senior Hezbollah figure with whom he works together to promote financial activities between the Lebanese terrorist organization and the Iranian terrorist organization.
It is also alleged that Kassir is also the CEO of the Hezbollah-affiliated press company ‘Talaki Group’, which funds oil shipments to the Revolutionary Guards. And determining payments related to shipping vessels.
Kassir also oversaw price negotiations and collaborated to cover expenses and promote oil shipments from Iran in the Adrian Darya 1 tanker, which was sanctioned by the United States and represented Lebanon-based Hokoul SAL Offshore in supply negotiations. Iranian crude oil to Syria.
In addition, he designed and worked with others to use the Talaki Group to enable the sale of tens of millions of dollars worth of steel. On September 4, 2019, the US Treasury Department defined Ali Kassir as an international terrorist with a special classification and a general ban on US officials from entering into any transactions with him.
In addition, the program offers a prize of up to $ 10 million for information about Sayyid Muhammad Hussein Musa Kazmi and Sajad Kashian who work for the Iranian cyber company Ament Pasargad, which provides cyber capabilities and support to Iran’s intelligence and security ministry as well as the Revolutionary Guards and Quds Force. According to the US State Department, from September to November 2020, the company participated in a multi-stage online operation sponsored by the state of Iran aimed at the US presidential election in 2020.
Kazmi helped carry out the campaign of intimidation and influence on American voters by diverting servers used to send threatening emails to voters, preparing emails for a campaign threatening voters, and diverting the email accounts of an American telecommunications company. And tried to acquire accounts on social networks to promote the campaign of intimidation and influence on voters.
The decision to award a monetary reward and the attempt to economically harm the Revolutionary Guards, is made against the background of the severe economic crisis and the popular protest against the cost of living and corruption in Iran. The Iranian media has covered the economic situation in Iran with the nuclear crisis and defined the state of the economy in the Islamic Republic as the worst for the Iranian people in the last three years since the Donald Trump administration withdrew from the nuclear deal.
More protests in #Iran today: Retirees staged nationwide protest in dozens of cities, including Ahvaz, Mashhad, Tabriz & Isfahan in 19 provinces, chanted slogans such as “death to Raisi”.
In Tehran & Arak, shopkeepers protested, clashed with police.
Ahvaz today.#IranProtests pic.twitter.com/sHUSb5B5Tb— Shahin Gobadi (@gobadi) June 12, 2022
The wave of protests that began against the background of economic difficulties and government failures is spreading. Demonstrations in a number of major cities in the west of the country continue, during which calls were made against Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and against the government.