Inside Irans Army of Terror and Oppression: Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) – Part 2 – National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI)

Facebook Twitter LinkedInPinterestReddit EmailPrint

Our previous piece about the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) portrayed an overall picture of Irans army of terror and repression. The first part of this series exposed the IRGCs organization, how it functions, and its role in preserving the mullahs regimes grip on power. In fact, the IRGC is the main force of the regime, which both oppresses people inside Iran and exports chaos and terrorism abroad. But the question is how this entity is funded?

The previous part showed partially how the IRGC has monopolized Irans economy. In this piece, we intend to show how the worlds largest terrorist organization is funded. The following information is from The Rise of the Revolutionary Guards Financial Empire, a book published by the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) United States Representative Office.

Our last piece revealed the names of 14 powerhouses that are under the supervision of the IRGC and Ali Khamenei, the regimes supreme leader. These 14 powerhouses oversee the looting of Irans economy and fund the IRGCs activities and its subsidiaries, such as the terrorist Quds Force and Basij militia.

These 14 powerhouses are:

The 14 powerhouses and large economic institutions that control Irans economy are as follows:

Setads influence and domination over the Iranian economy surpass even that of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). It is the most assertive of the so-called non-government public sector companies when it comes to the confiscation of assets. An important difference between Setad and other similar institutions in the sphere of the velayat-e faqihs influence is that it has been able to take possession of some of the most profitable and largest commercial and financial firms, thanks to the direct and daily backing of Khamenei himself.

Supreme Leader Khamenei is the direct overseer of Setad, an organization with assets worth approximately $95 billion

A Reuters investigation published in 2013 estimated Setad assets to be worth around $95 billion. Those assets not mentioned in the Reuters report, but listed below, reveal the wealth of Setad to be much more than this estimate. In reality, Setad is the engine of Khameneis synergy strategy for the Iranian economy.

The mandate of the Tadbir Energy Development Group, one member of the Setad conglomerate, is to establish a powerful international oil, gas, petrochemical and energy producer through the creation or ownership of effective shares of active companies or companies with potentially viable assets.

A review of Setads activities also confirms that this complex is one of the most important interlocutors for transactions with western companies.

For example, in the conclusion of this text, mention is made of some pharmaceutical components of Setad with French, American, British, Italian, and Swiss companies.

The new administrative organ of Setad has 100 employees and is authorized to make policy and supervise the institutions activities. The members of this board are handpicked by Khamenei himself. They include the likes of mullah Hossein-Ali Nayyeri, a judge during the 1988 massacre of thousands of political prisoners; Hossein Shariatmadari, an interrogator, torturer, and now Khameneis representative in the state-run daily Kayhan; and Mohammad Mohammadi Golpayegani, Khameneis chief of staff.

To strengthen the financial backbone of Setad, in 2010, Khamenei transferred close to $1B worth of assets from Astan-e Abdol-Azim in Rey city to Setad.

The names of some of the parent companies within this conglomerate are:

The Tadbir Energy Development Group, also sanctioned under Iranian Transactions and Sanctions Regulations by the U. S. Treasury Department, has the following holdings:

Tadbir Energy Development Holding Company: This enterprise is active in the exploration and production of oil and gas, refineries, petrochemicals and other commercial pursuits. It has been reported that the so-called Peace pipeline project in Pakistan, a deal worth about $500M, belongs to this holding. 80 percent of another project to build a refinery in Hormoz, as well as the Mansouri oil field development have also been awarded to this holding. Its subsidiaries include:

Mobin Iran Electronics Expansion Holding Company

Tadbir Industry and Mining Development Holding Company

Barkat Pharmaceuticals Holding Company: This parent company owns 60.6 percent of the Alborz Investment Group, the second-largest pharmaceutical holding company in the country. Companies in this conglomerate include:

Tadbir Strategic Studies and Management Consultant Group

Tadbir Construction Development Company: This holding company, also sanctioned under Iranian Transactions and Sanctions Regulations by the U.S. Treasury Department, manages construction for residential, commercial and tourist projects.43 It has four large construction companies under its umbrella.

This organization has confiscated real estate properties, land, assets, residential homes, heritage and historic properties, and many others, especially over the past decade.

The Ministry of Roads and Urban Development announced on November 1, 2016, that it had awarded another massive development project to the Mostazafan Foundation. Mahmoud Navidi, managing director of Khomeini Airport Estates Company announced that the Ministry will sign a contract with the Mostazafan Foundation for construction and operation of the Salam Terminal in Khomeini Airport in Tehran. The state-run ILNA news agency, quoting Navidi, wrote: This project was awarded to the Mostazafan Foundation without competitive bidding. According to [Navidi], the contract was awarded upon the recommendation and approval of Rouhanis cabinet.

The Foundations investment in this project was announced at $4B USD. Construction of part of the Salam Terminal had previously been awarded to the National Construction Company, a subsidiary of the Mostazafan Foundation.

Heads of Khamenei-controlled Mostazafan Foundation in the past 41 years. From left: Ali-Naghi Khamoushi, Mohammad-Ali Rajaei, Mir-Hossein Mousavi, Mohsen Rafighdoost, Mohammad Foruzandeh, Mohammad Saeedi-Kia, Parviz Fattah

Some of the other main subsidiaries of this foundation are listed below.

Alavi Foundation

The Peyvand Ferdous Pars Agriculture and Gardening, which includes: Sirjan Bonyad Agriculture, Mashhad Gardening and Farming, Pars Milk And Meat Investment, Fajre Esfahan, Fajre Sari Gardening and Agriculture, Dasht-e Naz-e Sari Farming, Sina Seed and Plant, Ebrahim Abad Agriculture, Ferdous Tehran Agriculture and Gardening, Peyvand-e Khavaran Agro Industry, Nemat Agro Industry, Golcheshmeh Agro Industry, Ran-e Behshahr Agriculture and Farm Animals, and Mahya Agro Industry.

Kaveh Pars Mining Industry Development

Pars Milk and Beef Investments, which includes: Magsal Agro and Farm Animals, Teliseh Nemooneh Farm Animals, Milk and Farm Animals, Yassouj Agro, Mahdashe Sari Milk and Beef, Azarnegin Agro Industry, Binaloud Neyshabour Agro Industry, Dasht-e Novin Malayer Agro Industry, Negin Fam Khouzestan Agro Industry, Arak Cultivation, Kangavar Beef and Milk, Zagros Shahr-e Kord Milk and Beef, Khorramdareh Agro Industry.

Sina Food Industries Development, which includes: Domestic Chickens, Oroumieh Toyour Complex, Mehrshar Food Industry, Pakdis, Behnoush Iran, Ab-Ali Beverages, Shahd-e Kouhrang, Glucosan, Gousht-Iran, Pak Dairy Products.

Cultural Institutions:

Other Companies:

Financial Institutions:

According to websites affiliated with the economic organization of this institution, the Razavi economic organization is recognized as the biggest economic holding in eastern Iran with high diversity in different businesses. It controls the production of 10 percent of sugar, 11 percent of decorative stones, 3.7 percent of city and inter-city coach buses, and one-sixth of bread production in the country.

The cartel of companies tied to Astan-e Qods-e Razavi controls the annual production of 47,000 tons of non-homogenized milk, 2,000 tons of red meat, 1,000 tons of white meat, 100,000 tons of agricultural products, 10,000 square meters of fabric, 6,000 square meters of hand-weaved carpets, while also executing over 136 construction, development, road, and urban development projects.

Large swathes of farmland in northeastern Iran, estimated to be at least 990,000 acres with an estimated value of over $20B, are owned by this foundation. Additionally, 43.5 percent of Mashhad citys urban land is under the foundations ownership. It also has endowments in 14 provinces, real estate offices in 20 provinces, and 300,000 rentals.In the context of the regimes export of fundamentalism, the foundation conducts activities in Syria, including bridge construction. In 2016, the foundation and the IRGC conducted negotiations for the foundation to allocate at least 20 percent of its annual income to cover the IRGCs expenses.

Below is a list of some of the conglomerates firms and holding companies.

Construction

Auto Manufacturing

Food Products

Sugar Industry

Agricultural

Textile Industry

Pharmaceuticals

Financial

Others

Ebrahim Raisi, the then caretaker of AQR, offers Qassem Soleimani, commander of terrorist Quds Force, the highest honorary title of AQR, July 21, 2018, Mashhad, Iran

The Shahid (Martyr) Foundation was created in 1979 on the orders of former Supreme Leader Ruhollah Khomeini. Its reach grew after the start of the eight- year Iran-Iraq war in the 1980s, as it provided services to the victims families. Much like other similar institutions, the foundation took huge leaps in the 1990s to accumulate wealth quickly. Under Khameneis direct control, the foundation took ownership of many financial, commercial and manufacturing enterprises. Despite owning a vast range of assets and generating significant revenues, it is also allocated a portion of the government budget. The chairman of the foundation is a representative of the Supreme Leader.

The U.S. Department of the Treasury designated the Martyrs Foundation on July 24, 2007 under Executive Order 13224. Designations under E.O. 13224 freeze any assets the designees may have under U.S. jurisdiction and prohibit transactions by U.S. persons with the designees. In its statement, Treasury said, The Martyrs Foundation is an Iranian parastatal organization that channels financial support from Iran to several terrorist organizations in the Levant, including Hizballah, Hamas, and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ). To this end, the Martyrs Foundation established branches in Lebanon staffed by leaders and members of these same terrorist groups. Martyrs Foundation branches in Lebanon have also provided financial support to the families of killed or imprisoned Hizballah and PIJ members, including suicide bombers in the Palestinian territories.

Some of the companies and institutions controlled by the Shahid Foundation are listed below.

Kowsar Economic Organization, which itself owns over 30 companies, including:

Dey Bank (47 branches): According to the Dey Banks financial disclosure information for the fiscal year 2014, the bank owns over $3.5B worth of assets; additionally, it owns at least 13 other companies, including:

One of Bank Days branches in Iran

The Imam Khomeini Relief Committee (IKRC) was established on March 5, 1979. Its declared goal is to support the destitute and oppressed and to enable them to be self-reliant. Although the committee receives a remarkable share of the annual government budget, it also runs separate commerce and financial enterprises, obtaining significant profits.

Despite its declared aim of helping the destitute, numerous reports, including those published in the regimes own media outlets, confirm that the Emdad Committee is part of the regimes apparatus of exporting terrorism and fundamentalism. Its website declares it has offices in Iraq, Lebanon, Azerbaijan, Syria, Tajikistan, Afghanistan and the African country of Comoros. According to state-run media, Based on official figures, the Emdad Committee has official representation in 6 countries. Per its former chairman, the committee has formed popular cells in 30 countries around the world. As of 2014, the committee helps a total of 34,219 people in Lebanon, Syria, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Iraq and Comoros. Afghanistan has the most beneficiaries with 13,200 people in need of help. Iraq is second, with 12,700 people.

Some of these so-called beneficiaries are the same people who, after undergoing a series of training sessions, are sent to Syria by the Quds Forceto fight for the Assad dictatorship. Many other reports describe the Emdad Committees activities associated with exporting fundamentalism in various countries of the region. On July 8, 2016, Tajikistans Ministry of Justice asked a court in the country to ban the activities of the Emdad Committee.

A 2016 report obtained from inside the Iranian regime indicates that the Emdad Committee pays monthly stipends to over 5,000 households of the Syrian dictatorships forces killed in recent years.

On August 3, 2010, the U.S. Treasury Department designated The Imam Khomeini Relief Committee Lebanon Branch pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 13224. Treasury stated, Iran has provided millions of dollars to the Hezbollah-run branch in Lebanon since 2007. The IKRC has helped fund and operates Hezbollah youth training camps, which have been used to recruit future Hezbollah members and operatives. Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah has acknowledged the IKRC branch in Lebanon as one of Hezbollahs openly-functioning institutions linked to and funded by Iran.

On December 20, 2015, Iranian media reported that Parviz Fattah, the head of Emdad, had paid a visit to the Beqaa (Bekaa) Valley in south Lebanon, which is the stronghold of Hezbollah, to meet with persons who had received the committees aide.

Some of the holding companies and institutions controlled by the Emdad Committee are:

Construction and Building

Agriculture and Food Industry

Mines and Mining Industry

Commerce

Financial

Real Estate: The lands confiscated by the Emdad Committee in various provinces include:

The committee also owns significant land and farms in other provinces, including Tehran, Esfahan, Hamedan, Semnan Alborz, Khorasan, Qazvin, Ilam, Kermanshah, Azarbaijan, Lorestan, Charmahal Bakhtiari, and Ardebil. However, there are no official reports in this regard.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Cooperative Foundation (Bonyad Taavon Sepah) is regarded as the most powerful financial institution in the country. Article 4 of the charter of this so-called foundation states, The initial investment in the foundation at the time of its founding was ten million Rials (roughly $315), contributed by the Supreme Leader. Article 23 says, All of the funds and assets of the foundation belong to His Excellency the Supreme Leader. In case of its dissolution, after settling all debts, all of the properties and assets will be handed over to His Excellency.

The U. S. Treasury Department announced in December 2010 that pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 13382 an authority aimed at freezing the assets of proliferators of weapons of mass destruction Bonyad Taavon Sepah had been designated for providing services to the IRGC.

The foundation is one of the five largest economic powerhouses in the country. Some of the commercial companies and groups of this foundation are:

A considerable portion of this automotive group belongs to the IRGC Cooperative. The Ghadir Investment Company also owns a significant portion. The automobile manufacturing group itself owns the following companies:

Saipa Company: Saipa is the second-largest automaker in Iran. Despite only holding 17 percent of shares in the company, in effect the IRGC is the main decision-maker and beneficiary of its profits. Saipa owns other companies, including:

National Iranian Investment Company

Bahman Investment Company

Bahman Leasing Company

Bahman Diesel (montage of Japanese Isuzu trucks)

Iran Credit (79 percent share)

Bahman Brokerage

Etemad Development Investments

Thamen Institution

Thamen al-ameh Financial and Credit Institution: Also known as a credit cooperative, it has 500 branches. By early 2010, the company had lent over $13B to applicants.

Behshahr Industrial Investments (16 percent)

Iranian Negin Khatam Investments (owns shares in Ansar Bank)

Saman Majd Investments (belongs to Thamen Credit)

Ayak Investments

One of Ansar Banks branches in Iran

Ansar Bank has 600 branches across Iran and is the fourth largest bank in the country. It has formed several other companies, including:

Atlas Iranians Investment Holding Company, which is active in real estate services, and owns the following:

Ansar Electronics

Houshmand Iranian Electronics

Novin Padideh Ansar

More:

Inside Irans Army of Terror and Oppression: Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) - Part 2 - National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI)