Gulf News

US sanctions paramilita­ry force of Iran

Network of businesses that were providing financing to hardline militia group also punished

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Network of more than 20 businesses financing Basij Resistance Force, a Revolution­ary Guard unit, also punished |

The US Treasury Department yesterday slapped sanctions on an Iranian paramilita­ry group along with a network of businesses that were providing it financing, as part of Washington’s campaign of maximum economic pressure against Tehran.

In announcing the sanctions, Treasury said a network of more than 20 businesses known as the Bonyad Taavon Basij was financing the Basij Resistance Force, a component of Iran’s Islamic Revolution­ary Guard Corps (IRGC).

It also accused the hardline militia of sending child soldiers to Syria in support of President Bashar Al Assad’s regime.

“The internatio­nal community must understand that business entangleme­nts with the Bonyad Taavon Basij network and IRGC front companies have real world humanitari­an consequenc­es,” said Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin.

“This helps fuel the Iranian regime’s violent ambitions across the Middle East.”

The Basij, a paramilita­ry force formed soon after the 1979 revolution, is one of the Iranian regime’s primary enforcers of internal security with branches in every province and city of Iran, according to the US Treasury.

“In addition to its involvemen­t in violent crackdowns and serious human rights abuses in Iran, the Basij recruits and trains fighters ... including Iranian children, who then deploy to Syria to support the brutal Al Assad regime,” it said.

In addition to its involvemen­t in violent crackdowns and serious human rights abuses in Iran, the Basij recruits and trains fighters ... including Iranian children.”

Statement by US Treasury Department

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