IRGC Cooperative Foundation

Person/Entity:
Entity
Also Known As:
Bonyad Taavon Sepah; Bonyad-e Ta'avon-e; Sepah Cooperative Foundation
Sanctioned by U.S:
Yes
Date Sanctioned by U.S:
2023-01-23
Sanctioned by EU:
Yes
Date Sanctioned by EU:
2023-05-22
Sanctioned by U.K.:
No
Sanctioned by Canada:
No
Sanctioned by Australia:
No
U.S Laws/EOs Sanctioned Under:
EU Laws/Regulations Sanctioned Under:
U.K. Laws/Regulations Sanctioned Under:
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Canadian Laws/Regulations Sanctioned Under:
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Australian Laws/Regulations Sanctioned Under:
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Description

"The IRGC Cooperative Foundation is an economic conglomerate established by senior IRGC officials to manage the group’s investments and presence in numerous sectors of the Iranian economy, including manufacturing and construction. The IRGC Cooperative Foundation serves as a slush fund for the IRGC’s personnel and their business interests. Though ostensibly established to support IRGC service members, the IRGC Cooperative Foundation has morphed into a wellspring of corruption and graft, perpetrated by senior members of the organization. IRGC Cooperative Foundation funds have likewise supported the IRGC’s military adventures abroad, including into the pockets of militant groups associated with the IRGC’s external operations arm, the IRGC-Qods Force. With national protests in their fourth month, the IRGC continues to aggressively crack down on peaceful demonstrations and has played a leading role in suppressing protests through extensive human rights abuses. The IRGC Cooperative Foundation is being designated pursuant to E.O. 13553 for being owned or controlled by, directly or indirectly, the IRGC. The IRGC Cooperative Foundation was previously designated pursuant to counterterrorism and non-proliferation authorities."1 

"The IRGC has been at the forefront of the crackdown on protests in Iran since September 2022, which according to independent sources has resulted in over 520 deaths, including the deaths of over 70 minors, and more than 22 000 arrests/imprisonments. The IRGC Cooperative Foundation is the body responsible for managing the IRGC’s investments and is thus responsible for financing the regime’s brutal repression. It is therefore responsible for serious human rights violations in Iran."2 

Sources: 

1. https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/jy1209

2. https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=uriserv%3AOJ.LI.2023.134.01.0006.01.ENG&toc=OJ%3AL%3A2023%3A134I%3ATOC 

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