US redesignates Hezbollah as Iranian proxy, sanctions funding network
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The US Treasury redesignated Hezbollah as an Iranian proxy and sanctioned a network accused of moving hundreds of millions of dollars to the group. The action links Hezbollah to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Quds Force. It comes as Washington prepares economic measures aimed at collapsing Iran's economy.
Key Facts
- The US Treasury changed Hezbollah's designation from 'terrorist organisation' to an Iranian proxy under the command of the IRGC Quds Force.
- Sanctions target 10 people allegedly part of a network led by Turkish businessman Yunus Alper Yilmaz that moved hundreds of millions of dollars via couriers on commercial flights.
- The US designated Hezbollah as a foreign terrorist organization in 1997 and updated the label to specially designated global terrorist in 2001.
- The redesignation comes as the US mediates negotiations between Israel and Lebanon, which remain technically at war.
Redesignation Details
The US Treasury said Hezbollah's legal designation was changed to reflect its 'service to the Iranian regime under the command of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps', particularly the elite Quds Force. A State Department official said the new redesignation 'specifies that Hezbollah is an Iranian proxy, not a stand-alone operation as implied by the previous designation'. The official added that the action builds on years of US designations documenting operational, financial, and logistical integration between Hezbollah and the IRGC-QF. The official called Hezbollah 'an extension' of Iran's Quds Force and said it operates with little regard for Lebanese sovereignty.
Sanctions on Funding Network
The new restrictions target 10 people allegedly part of a network that transfers cash to Hezbollah, according to the Treasury statement. Washington accused the network, which Turkish businessman Yunus Alper Yilmaz is accused of leading, of using couriers travelling on commercial airline flights between Lebanon, Turkiye, the UAE, and Iran to move hundreds of millions of dollars. The Treasury said the setup provides 'an avenue outside the formal financial system for Hezbollah to obtain foreign currency and evade sanctions'.
Diplomatic Context
The redesignation comes as the US mediates negotiations between Israel and Lebanon, which remain technically at war. The move also comes as the US prepares economic measures which it says will crush Iran's economy and 'collapse' the regime in Tehran. Both Hezbollah and Iran reject Western involvement in the Middle East and Israel's military actions across the region.
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US redesignates Hezbollah as Iranian proxy, sanctions funding network
