Info:
Treasury action targets the CBI for its financial support to the IRGC-QF and Hizballah. In May 2018, OFAC designated the CBI’s then-Governor Valiollah Seif, and the Assistant Director of the International Department Ali Tarzali, for facilitating financial transfers for the IRGC-QF and Hizballah. Also, in November 2018 and as part of Treasury’s disruption of an international oil-for-terror network, OFAC designated the CBI’s International Department Director Rasul Sajjad, and the CBI’s International Department Director, Hossein Yaghoobi, for conducting financial transactions for the IRGC-QF;
Since at least 2016, the IRGC-QF has received the vast majority of its foreign currency from the CBI and senior CBI officials have worked directly with the IRGC-QF to facilitate CBI’s financial support to the IRGC-QF. In 2017, the IRGC-QF oversaw the transfer of tens of millions of euros to Iraq from the CBI. Then-Governor of the CBI Valiollah Seif directed the transfer;
During 2018 and early 2019, the CBI facilitated the transfer of several billion of U.S. dollars and euros to the IRGC-QF and hundreds of millions to MODAFL from the NDF. Additionally, millions were to be transferred to the Houthis. CBI has also coordinated with the IRGC-QF to transfer funds to Hizballah;
OFAC is designating the CBI for having materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services to, the IRGC-QF and Hizballah;
The IRGC-QF, which was designated pursuant to E.O. 13224 on October 25, 2007, is a branch of the IRGC responsible for external operations and has provided material support to numerous terrorist groups, including the Taliban, Hizballah, HAMAS, and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, making it a key component of Iran’s destabilizing regional activities. The IRGC, including its external arm, the IRGC-QF, was designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organization on April 8, 2019;
Hizballah was designated by the Department of State as a Foreign Terrorist Organization in October 1997 pursuant to E.O. 13224 in October 2001. It was also designated in August 2012 pursuant to E.O. 13582, which targets the Government of Syria and its supporters;
Asia Bank (formerly Chemeximbank) is an Iranian-owned bank that has provided support to the Central Bank of Iran and designated Iranian banks;
Industry:
Banking Sector
Child agencies:
Monetary and Banking Research Institute
Iran Banking Institute
Treasury of National Jewels
Security Printing and Minting Organization
Security Paper Mill
Also Known As:
Bank Markazi Jomhouri Islami Iran
Bank Markazi Iran
Central Bank of the Islamic Republic of Iran
Country:
Iran
Address:
PO Box 15875/7177, 144 Mirdamad Blvd, Tehran, Iran
213 Ferdowsi Avenue, Tehran 11365, Iran
Mirdamad Blvd, 144 – P.O. Box 15875/7/77, Tehran, Iran
Website:
www.cbi.ir
E-mail:
info@cbi.ir
Person of interests:
Valiollah Seif
Ali Tarzali
Rasul Sajjad
Hossein Yaghoobi
Abdolnaser Hemmati