WASHINGTON: The United States on Wednesday sanctioned an Iraqi company and two of its associates, which it said had helped Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Quds force evade sanctions by smuggling hundreds of millions of dollars worth of weapons. Wednesday’s sanctions targeted Baghdad-based South Wealth Resources Company, the statement said. Two of the entity’s associates, who the statement said helped facilitate weapons shipments and the company’s financial operations, were also sanctioned, it said. U.S. officials said the company’s operation also benefited Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, a previously sanctioned Iraqi adviser to IRGC-Quds force commander Qassem Soleimani. Washington previously sanctioned Iran’s elite IRGC in April, designating it a terrorist organization in an unprecedented move.

Source: Pakistan Today June 12, 2019 14:37 UTC