The U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has imposed sanctions on two Hezbollah officials and two financial operators involved in managing funds for the group. This announcement was made on Thursday.
According to a recent press release, the Ministry of Finance has validated allegations against four individuals who are suspected of receiving financial backing from international donors. These individuals have strong ties to Hezbollah’s leadership, and their funds constitute a crucial part of the group’s budget.
These individuals are reportedly based in Iran and Lebanon, as highlighted in the release.
“Today, the Ministry of Finance’s Foreign Assets Control Bureau is taking action against two high-ranking Hezbollah officials and two financial facilitators due to their role in coordinating financial transactions for Hezbollah,” the Ministry of Finance stated on Twitter.
Deputy Secretary of the Treasury, Michael Faulkender, emphasized in the press release that these actions underline Hezbollah’s extensive global influence, particularly via a network of supporters in Tehran.
Faulkender added that the Ministry is committed to ramping up economic pressures on key figures within the Iranian regime who facilitate these activities, a part of a broader strategy to counter Iran’s involvement in terrorism.
The measures also align with the U.S. strategy to tackle Hezbollah’s illicit financial network, including ties to oil sales and commercial enterprises. The sanctions have emerged following Hezbollah’s attempts to reorganize operations after the conflict with Israel late last year.
The sanctioned individuals include Muin Dakik Al Amiri, Hasan Abdallah Neema, Jihad Arami, and Fadi Neeme. These individuals were named under a Presidential Order from the Bush administration.
Al-Amiri has been associated with Hezbollah’s leadership and financial matters for years, reportedly overseeing the transfer of cash from Iran to Hezbollah in Lebanon. Arami is noted for receiving and distributing these funds, with Al Amiri allegedly helping to facilitate at least $50,000 intended to support operations in Gaza.
Additionally, Ibrahim Ali Daher, an accountant linked to Hezbollah’s finance chief, has been under OFAC’s scrutiny since May 2021 for overseeing the group’s funds and budget.
Neema is reported to manage millions of dollars in funding across Africa, including significant sums in Nigeria, and has established relationships with Hezbollah’s top leadership.
As a result of the sanctions, any property or profits involving the designated individuals within the U.S. must be blocked and reported to OFAC. The press release also indicated that any export, re-export, or transfer of controlled items involving designated individuals could face restrictions.
This development follows sanctions imposed on around 20 entities tied to Iran’s illegal international oil trade, aligning with the Trump administration’s “maximum pressure” campaign against Iran, according to the Treasury Department.
