The U.S. Department of State’s Reward for Justice Program is offering a reward of up to $15 million for information leading to the disruption of the financial mechanisms of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and its branches, including the IRGC-Qods Force (IRGC-QF). The IRGC has financed numerous terrorist attacks and activities globally. The IRGC-QF leads Iran’s terrorist operations outside Iran via its proxies, such as Hizballah and Hamas.

The Department is offering rewards for information on the sources of revenue for the IRGC, IRGC-QF, its branches or its key financial facilitation mechanisms to include:

IRGC illicit financial schemes, including oil-for-money;

Front companies tied to the IRGC, engaged in international activity on their behalf;

Entities or individuals assisting the IRGC in evading U.S. and international sanctions;

Formal financial institutions doing business with the IRGC;

How the IRGC is transferring funding and materials to its terrorist and militia proxies and partners;

IRGC donors or financial facilitators;

Financial institutions or exchange houses facilitating IRGC transactions;

Businesses or investments owned or controlled by IRGC or its financiers;

Front companies engaged in international procurement of dual-use technology on behalf of IRGC; and

Criminal schemes involving IRGC members and supporters, which are financially benefiting the organization.

The IRGC was founded in 1979 after the Iranian Revolution. It is a branch of the Iranian military and, most prominently through its Qods Force, the IRGC has the greatest role among Iran’s actors in directing and carrying out the regime’s global terrorist campaign.

On April 15, 2019, the State Department designated the IRGC as a Foreign Terrorist Organization under Section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act. In 2017, the U.S. Department of the Treasury designated the IRGC as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist pursuant to Executive Order 13224 for its activities in support of the IRGC-QF.

Since its founding 40 years ago, the IRGC has been involved in terrorist plots and supports terrorism worldwide. The IRGC is responsible for numerous attacks targeting Americans and U.S. facilities, including those that killed U.S. citizens. The IRGC has supported attacks against U.S. and allied troops and diplomatic missions in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Additionally, the group has taken hostages and wrongfully detained numerous U.S. persons, many of whom remain in captivity in Iran today.

The IRGC–QF has planned terrorist activities around the world, in countries such as Germany, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Kenya, Bahrain, Turkey, and the United States.

In pursuit of this disruption, RFJ is seeking information on the financial activities, networks, and associates of Abdul Reza Shahla’i.

Abdul Reza Shahla’i

IRGC Official in Yemen

Abdul Reza Shahla’i is a high-ranking commander in the IRGC–Qods Force, based in Sanaa, Yemen. Shahla’i has a long history of targeting Americans and U.S. allies globally.

Shahla’i planned multiple assassinations of coalition forces in Iraq, provided weapons and explosives to Shia extremist groups and planned the January 20, 2007 attack in Karbala, Iraq that killed five American soldiers and wounded three others.

As a financier and senior IRGC official, in 2011, Shahla’i funded $5 million dollars, and directed the plot to assassinate the Saudi Ambassador in Washington, DC. Shahla’i also planned follow-on attacks inside the United States and elsewhere.

Shahla’i was designated as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) by the U.S. Department of the Treasury in 2008 and 2011. He was also designated by Saudi Arabia, the European Union, United Kingdom, and Bahrain in 2018.

Aliases:

Abdol Reza Shahlai

Abdul Reza Shala’i

`Abd-al Reza Shalai

`Abdorreza Shahlai

Abdolreza Shahla’i

Abdul-Reza Shahlaee

Hajj Yusef

Haji Yusif

Hajji Yasir

Hajji Yusif

`Yusuf Abu-al-Karkh’

Date of Birth:

Circa 1957

Place of Birth:

Iran

Terrorist Group:

IRGC-QF

Individual Terrorist Designations:

Treasury SDGT- 2008, 2011

European Union, UK, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain

Locations:

Sanaa, Yemen

Kermanshah, Iran

Mehran Military Base, Ilam Province, Iran

If you have information about Abdul Reza Shahla’I, please contact your nearest U.S. embassy or consulate or email [email protected]