On October 22, 2020, the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control designated Iraj Masjedi, Iran’s Ambassador to Iraq since 2017, and a general in Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps – Qods Force (IRGC-QF) pursuant to the counterterrorism authority in Executive Order 13224, as amended, for acting for or on behalf of the IRGC-QF. The IRGC-QF was designated in 2007 pursuant to Executive Order 13224 for supporting multiple terrorist organizations.
Masjedi has served the IRGC-QF for decades, managing a program that provides training and support to militia groups in Iraq and Syria that are responsible for attacks on US and coalition, and the kidnapping of Iraqi officials. Since 2018, Masjedi has also helped the IRGC-QF in Iran obtain foreign currency, and more recently helped the IRGC-QF in Iraq obtain billions of dinars.
As a result of this designation, US property belonging to Masjedi is blocked, and US transactions with such property are generally prohibited. In addition, any foreign financial institution that knowingly conducts transactions on behalf of a designated individual risks exposure to US sanctions.