The US Treasury Department announced on August 20, 2026, that it has imposed sanctions on 10 individuals alleged to be part of a courier network that smuggled hundreds of millions of dollars to Hezbollah. According to the Treasury, this network transported cash on commercial flights between Iran, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, and Lebanon. The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) stated that the operation enabled Hezbollah, which is backed by Iran, to acquire foreign currency and evade sanctions outside of the formal banking system. The Treasury linked this operation to Behnam Shahriyari, a deceased finance official associated with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Quds Force.
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US Treasury Department Sanctions 10 Individuals for Alleged Hezbollah Cash Smuggling
On August 20, 2026, the US Treasury Department sanctioned 10 individuals for allegedly smuggling hundreds of millions of dollars to Hezbollah through a courier network. The network reportedly used commercial flights to transport cash between several countries, facilitating Hezbollah's access to foreign currency and evasion of sanctions.
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Behnam Shahriyari
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US places sanctions on 10 people over alleged Hezbollah cash-smuggling ring
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US Treasury Department Sanctions 10 Individuals for Alleged Hezbollah Cash Smuggling