Hassan Nasrallah’s funeral in recent days marked the end of an era in Lebanon, as following the recent war with Israel, Hezbollah finds itself in an unprecedented situation. Its leadership is seen as weak and inexperienced, it has suffered significant military losses, and it is in a deep financial crisis. Most important is the fact the organization is cut off from its main logistical arena in Syria due to the fall of the Assad regime. 

China is principally responsible for keeping the Iranian regime in business through oil purchases that have totaled over $140 billion since President Biden assumed office in January 2021 . Four in every five barrels of exported Iranian oil go to China. This is despite U.S. sanctions that were reimposed in 2019 and maintained under the present administration, with the stated aim of reducing Iranian oil exports to zero.

For more than five decades, Hezbollah was the most successful model of Iran’s vision of exporting its Shiite Muslim revolution to other countries in the region. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ Quds Force, responsible for Tehran’s regional paramilitary and terror activities, invested hundreds of millions of dollars to transform Hezbollah into the world’s most heavily armed non-state actor and enable it to become Lebanon’s political hegemon. 

Senior Advisor to United Against Nuclear Iran: The Islamic Republic Exports Nothing But Death to the World

"Hiva Wallace, senior advisor to United Against a Nuclear Iran, told Iran International correspondent Ardovan Roozbeh about the display of an Islam

Microsoft Corporation

Microsoft Corporation has agreed to pay $2,980,265.86 to settle potential civil liability for 30 apparent violations of U.S. sanctions on Iran between July 2012 and April 2019. These violations involved the sale, activation, and provision of software and related services from Microsoft’s U.S.-based systems to Iranian entities. Microsoft failed to screen and identify Iranian end users, allowing them to access software through third-party distributors and resellers.

Uphold HQ Inc. (Uphold)

Uphold HQ Inc., a California-based money services business, has agreed to pay $72,230.32 to settle its potential civil liability for 152 apparent violations of U.S. sanctions against Iran, Cuba, and Venezuela between March 2017 and May 2022. The violations included processing transactions for customers who self-identified as being located in Iran or Cuba and for employees of the Venezuelan government. Uphold failed to screen customer-provided free-text address fields and identification documents, allowing users from sanctioned jurisdictions to access financial services.

American Life Insurance Company (ALICO)

American Life Insurance Company (ALICO), a Delaware-based subsidiary of MetLife, Inc., has agreed to pay $178,421 to settle its potential civil liability for violating U.S. sanctions on Iran. Between February 2022 and August 2023, ALICO issued group medical and life insurance policies and processed 2,331 premiums and claims totaling $446,077 for UAE-based schools and entities owned or controlled by the Government of Iran (GOI).

Aiotec GmbH

Aiotec GmbH, a Berlin-based industrial equipment sourcing company, has agreed to pay $14.55 million to settle its potential civil liability for violating U.S. sanctions on Iran. Between 2015 and 2019, Aiotec conspired to purchase a decommissioned polypropylene plant in Australia from a U.S. company and then illegally reexport it to Iran through false documentation and deception. Aiotec misrepresented to the U.S.

Córdoba Music Group LLC

Córdoba Music Group LLC, a California-based musical instrument manufacturer, has agreed to pay $41,591 to settle its potential civil liability for apparent violations of U.S. sanctions on Iran. Between November 2019 and March 2022, Córdoba knowingly shipped musical instruments and accessories valued at $118,831 to an Iranian distributor via a Dubai-based intermediary, in violation of the Iranian Transactions and Sanctions Regulations (ITSR). The company failed to recognize that indirect exports to Iran were prohibited under U.S.