Iran-related and Counter Terrorism Designations; Licensing Policy Update under Operation Economic Outcast; Settlement Agreement between OFAC and an Individual

Treasury Press Release: Operation Economic Outcast Strikes Iran’s Global Terrorist Proxy Network

State Press Release: U.S. Takes Action Against Iran’s Terrorist Proxies

Additions:

The following individuals have been added to OFAC’s SDN List:

OFAC Program: [SDGT]  Global Terrorism Sanctions Regulations, 31 C.F.R. part 594

AL ABADA, Khaldoon Naser Maryoosh

• AKA:
  • AL-ABADA, Khaldun Nasir Mariush
  • AL-‘IBADA, Khaldun Nasir Mariyush
• Address: Iraq
• DOB: 04 Jan 1980
• nationality: Iraq
• Gender: Male
• Secondary sanctions risk: section 1(b) of Executive Order 13224, as amended by Executive Order 13886
• Passport: B23554644 (Iraq) expires 18 Jan 2033
• Party Type: individual
• Linked to: AIN AL IRAQ FOR PROTECTION SYSTEMS TECHNOLOGY AND AUDIO, VISUAL, AND COMMUNICATIONS SOLUTIONS COMPANY LTD

Supplemental Information: Treasury identifies Al-Abada as a representative of Ain Al-Iraq, a procurement company affiliated with Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Commission (PMC), the body that governs the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF). He coordinates the PMC’s acquisition of foreign defense equipment and components and also advises the PMC as a consultant. OFAC designated him under E.O. 13224, as amended, for having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, Ain Al-Iraq.

Treasury describes both the PMF and the PMC as heavily dominated by Iran-aligned militias, such as Kata’ib Hizballah (KH), that operate at the direction of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Qods Force (IRGC-QF). State’s parallel statement presents the day’s actions as exposing how far the IRGC-QF has co-opted the PMF.

AL AMERI, Abdullah Nadhim Luaibi

• AKA: AL AMIRI, Abdallah Nazim Luaybi
• Address: Iraq
• DOB: 29 Jul 1975
• nationality: Iraq
• Gender: Male
• Secondary sanctions risk: section 1(b) of Executive Order 13224, as amended by Executive Order 13886
• Passport: A19542583 (Iraq) expires 22 Mar 2030
• Party Type: individual
• Linked to: AL-MAKSUSI, Sayyid Salah Mahdi Hantush

Supplemental Information: Treasury describes Al Ameri as a UAE-based Iraqi arms dealer who founded Iraq-based Al-Brouj For General Contracting Company Ltd and serves as its chief executive officer. Through Al-Brouj he supplies goods and services to the PMC, including what Treasury calls likely unlawful procurement of equipment with military applications. He also uses the company to support Iraqi military organizations that operate under IRGC-QF direction, for example by maintaining Russian-provided helicopters.

OFAC designated Al Ameri under E.O. 13224, as amended, for having materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of, Salah Mahdi Hantush al-Maksusi. Al-Maksusi is a former KH official who heads the PMC’s Directorate of Technical Equipment (DTE). OFAC designated him in 2012 for his involvement in KH attacks on U.S. and coalition forces in Iraq.

Treasury calls Al Ameri UAE-based, yet his listing gives Iraq as his only address, so address data alone will not place him in the UAE. The release also spells al-Maksusi’s given name two ways, Salah and Saleh. The Linked To field uses Sayyid Salah Mahdi Hantush.

AL-DHUHAIBAWI, Hussein Ahmed Hussein

• Address: Iraq
• DOB: 15 Sep 1984
• nationality: Iraq
• Gender: Male
• Secondary sanctions risk: section 1(b) of Executive Order 13224, as amended by Executive Order 13886
• Passport: A14283389 (Iraq) expires 06 Oct 2026
• Party Type: individual
• Linked to: KATA’IB HIZBALLAH

Supplemental Information: Treasury identifies Al-Dhuhaibawi as one of three active KH members designated alongside senior KH commander Ali Hasan Farhan Al-Lami. OFAC designated all four under E.O. 13224, as amended, for having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, KH. The passport in his listing expires on October 6, 2026, less than a month after the designation.

The State Department designated KH as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist and as a Foreign Terrorist Organization on June 24, 2009. Treasury describes KH as the most influential faction within the PMF, with members in PMC leadership posts that oversee the PMF’s intelligence, missiles, anti-armor and special forces directorates. That influence makes KH a major beneficiary of the more than $2.6 billion in annual Iraqi government funding allocated to the PMF.

Treasury also cites the May 16, 2026 arrest of a senior KH commander for attempting to arrange the bombing of a New York synagogue and of other Jewish institutions in Los Angeles and Scottsdale. According to Treasury, KH and other Iran-aligned militia groups in Iraq have carried out hundreds of attacks on U.S. and Coalition forces in Iraq and across the region since February 2026.

AL-HRAISHAWI, Karrar Mohammed Qasim

• Address: Iraq
• DOB: 11 Sep 2000
• nationality: Iraq
• Gender: Male
• Secondary sanctions risk: section 1(b) of Executive Order 13224, as amended by Executive Order 13886
• Passport: A19392691 (Iraq) expires 19 Dec 2029
• Party Type: individual
• Linked to: KATA’IB HIZBALLAH

Supplemental Information: Treasury identifies Al-Hraishawi as an active KH member. He was designated with Al-Lami, Al-Dhuhaibawi and Al-Shaikhli on the same basis, for acting for or on behalf of KH. Born on September 11, 2000, he is the youngest person designated in this action.

AL-LAMI, Ali Hasan Farhan

• Address: Iraq
• DOB: 18 Dec 1983
• nationality: Iraq
• Gender: Male
• Secondary sanctions risk: section 1(b) of Executive Order 13224, as amended by Executive Order 13886
• Passport: A11690581 (Iraq) expires 06 Jan 2025
• Party Type: individual
• Linked to: KATA’IB HIZBALLAH

Supplemental Information: Treasury identifies Al-Lami as a senior KH commander, the most senior of the four KH figures designated in this action, and OFAC designated him under E.O. 13224, as amended, for acting for or on behalf of KH.

The passport number in his listing expired on January 6, 2025, well before the designation. OFAC routinely keeps expired travel documents in its listings, so screening on document numbers that discards expired identifiers would miss this one.

AL-MAKANSI, Amir

• AKA: MAKANSI, Amir
• Addresses:
  • Turkey
  • Syria
• DOB: 01 Jan 1984
• POB: Aleppo, Syria
• nationality: Syria
• Additional Sanctions Information: Subject to Secondary Sanctions Pursuant to the Hizballah Financial Sanctions Regulations
• Gender: Male
• Secondary sanctions risk: section 1(b) of Executive Order 13224, as amended by Executive Order 13886
• Party Type: individual
• Linked to: ZAHER EL DINE, Hamdi

Supplemental Information: Treasury says that Al-Makansi, acting at the direction of U.S.-designated Hizballah financier Hamdi Zaher El Dine, operates a Syria-based gold exchange company that also has offices in Istanbul. The exchange deals mainly in gold. It also uses Lebanese exchange houses to change currency for Hamdi in large denomination bills that, according to Treasury, the Lebanese exchange sector knows to be frequently sourced to Hizballah. Treasury does not name the gold exchange company, and it is not among the entities designated in this action.

OFAC designated Al-Makansi under E.O. 13224, as amended, for having materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of, Hamdi. OFAC first designated Hamdi on January 28, 2016, as a Hizballah-affiliated money launderer, together with Mohamad Noureddine. Treasury now describes Hamdi as directing and operating several Lebanese gold and cash exchanges through family members and close associates in order to evade sanctions, without appearing in the legal structure of those exchange houses himself.

AL-SHAIKHLI, Mohamed Ameen Fadhil Ali

• Address: Iraq
• DOB: 03 Mar 1987
• nationality: Iraq
• Gender: Male
• Secondary sanctions risk: section 1(b) of Executive Order 13224, as amended by Executive Order 13886
• Passport: A5885383 (Iraq) expires 05 Jul 2019
• Party Type: individual
• Linked to: KATA’IB HIZBALLAH

Supplemental Information: Treasury identifies Al-Shaikhli as an active KH member, designated with the other three KH figures for acting for or on behalf of KH. The passport in his listing expired on July 5, 2019. With seven digits after the letter prefix, the number is also one digit shorter than every other Iraqi passport number in this action, and nothing in the release explains the difference.

AL-TAMEEMI, Abbas Jawad Kadhim

• AKA:
  • AL-TAMIMI, Abbas Jawad Kazim
  • “GOOGLE, Mahdi”
• Address: Iraq
• DOB: 14 Dec 1983
• nationality: Iraq
• Gender: Male
• Secondary sanctions risk: section 1(b) of Executive Order 13224, as amended by Executive Order 13886
• Passport: A14930282 (Iraq) expires 12 Jan 2027
• Party Type: individual
• Linked to: AL-MAKSUSI, Sayyid Salah Mahdi Hantush

Supplemental Information: Treasury identifies Al-Tameemi as a senior official in the PMC’s Directorate of Technical Equipment, the directorate al-Maksusi heads. He gives the PMC strategic guidance and technical advice on foreign military purchases and is regarded as a defense equipment expert within the PMC and among Iran-aligned militia groups. Treasury says his position and his support services to the PMC enable critical financial and military support to reach the IRGC-QF. OFAC designated him under E.O. 13224, as amended, for materially assisting, sponsoring, or providing support to al-Maksusi.

His weak alias, “GOOGLE, Mahdi,” deserves attention from anyone whose screening configuration includes weak aliases, since its surname element is also the name of a technology company that turns up constantly in payment and trade text.

HAMIEH, Abdallah

• AKA:
  • HAMEYE, Abdallah
  • HAMIYAH, Abdallah
• Address: Shamstar, Baalbek and Hermel, Lebanon
• DOB: 27 Oct 1983
• nationality: Lebanon
• Additional Sanctions Information: Subject to Secondary Sanctions Pursuant to the Hizballah Financial Sanctions Regulations
• Gender: Male
• Secondary sanctions risk: section 1(b) of Executive Order 13224, as amended by Executive Order 13886
• Passport: RL1347720 (Lebanon) expires 22 Jul 2013
• National ID No.: 000038207763 (Lebanon)
• Party Type: individual
• Linked to: HIZBALLAH

Supplemental Information: Treasury says the IRGC-QF uses front companies to move funds from Iranian oil sales to exchange houses in the region. IRGC-QF members in Lebanon then work with Hizballah financial officials to receive the money in Lebanon through several Lebanese money exchangers, including Hamieh and Hussein Ibrahim, and U.S.-designated Mohamad Noureddine has also been involved in these transfers. Treasury calls this group of businessmen and money changers a significant channel for moving money from the IRGC-QF to Hizballah.

According to Treasury, Hamieh and Ibrahim transferred hundreds of millions of dollars from the IRGC-QF to Hizballah between May and September 2025. Hizballah uses the money to buy weapons, manufacture equipment and pay its members’ salaries. OFAC designated Hamieh under E.O. 13224, as amended, for having materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of, Hizballah.

The Lebanese passport in his listing expired on July 22, 2013, which makes the national ID number the more useful identifier.

IBRAHIM, Hussein

• Address: Baalbek-Hermel Province, Lebanon
• DOB: 08 May 1986
• POB: Nabi Chit, Lebanon
• nationality: Lebanon
• Additional Sanctions Information: Subject to Secondary Sanctions Pursuant to the Hizballah Financial Sanctions Regulations
• Gender: Male
• Secondary sanctions risk: section 1(b) of Executive Order 13224, as amended by Executive Order 13886
• Passport: LR3713545 (Lebanon) expires 27 Sep 2033
• National ID No.: 000033040500 (Lebanon)
• Party Type: individual
• Linked to: HIZBALLAH

Supplemental Information: Ibrahim is the second of the two money exchangers Treasury names in the channel carrying IRGC-QF money to Hizballah, and OFAC designated him on the same material support basis as Hamieh.

His listing has no aliases, and Hussein Ibrahim is a very common name combination across the Arabic-speaking world. Screening teams should expect false positive volume on this one and lean on his date and place of birth, passport and national ID number to resolve alerts.

WEHBE, Ghaith Hussein

• AKA:
  • WAHIBI, Ghayth Husayn
  • “WARTH”
• Address: Lebanon
• DOB: 17 Dec 1985
• nationality: Lebanon
• Additional Sanctions Information: Subject to Secondary Sanctions Pursuant to the Hizballah Financial Sanctions Regulations
• Gender: Male
• Secondary sanctions risk: section 1(b) of Executive Order 13224, as amended by Executive Order 13886
• National ID No.: 000025122133 (Lebanon)
• Party Type: individual
• Linked to: HIZBALLAH

Supplemental Information: Treasury describes Wehbe as a Hizballah money courier. Once IRGC-QF money reached Lebanon, U.S.-designated Hizballah member Ossama Jaber worked with Wehbe to collect it in person from the cash exchangers on behalf of Hizballah financial officials. OFAC designated Wehbe under E.O. 13224, as amended, for material support to Hizballah.

His listing carries no passport, which leaves the Lebanese national ID number as its only document identifier.

ZAHRELDINE, Mervat Jamil

• AKA:
  • ZAHR EDDINE, Mirvat
  • ZAHREDDINE, Marwa Jamil
  • ZAHREDDINE, Mervat Jamil
• Address: Airport Road Karim Bldg. 7th Floor, Ghobeiry, Baabda, Lebanon
• DOB: 01 Jan 1991
• nationality: Lebanon
• Additional Sanctions Information: Subject to Secondary Sanctions Pursuant to the Hizballah Financial Sanctions Regulations
• Gender: Female
• Secondary sanctions risk: section 1(b) of Executive Order 13224, as amended by Executive Order 13886
• Passport: RL2779753 (Lebanon)
• Party Type: individual
• Linked to: ZAHER EL DINE, Hamdi

Supplemental Information: Treasury identifies Zahreldine as Hamdi Zaher El Dine’s sister. She works on his behalf at two of the exchange houses he directs, holding a position at Yousef Ibrahim Mansour and Partner for Exchange (YIM Exchange) and power of attorney at Gold Pro SARL, both designated in this action. OFAC designated her under E.O. 13224, as amended, for material support to Hamdi.

The family name appears in at least five romanizations in this action alone: Zaher El Dine in the Linked To fields, Zahreldine, Zahr Eddine and Zahreddine in her own listing, and Zaher El Din in the Gold Pro address. Her aliases also include Marwa, a different given name from Mervat and Mirvat, so name matching tuned only to her primary name is likely to miss variants.

OFAC Program: [IRAN-EO13902]  Executive Order 13902

AL-MANDALAWI, Abdulhasan Ali Akbar Namdar

• AKA:
  • NAMDAR, Abdulhasan
  • NAMDAR, Abdulhasan Ali Akbar
• Address: Dubai, United Arab Emirates
• DOB: 08 Jul 1965
• alt. DOB: 1978
• nationality: Iraq
• alt. nationality: Canada
• Gender: Male
• Passport: A17942936 (Iraq) expires 14 Feb 2029
• alt. Passport: HN146500 (Canada) expires 25 Oct 2026
• Party Type: individual
• Linked to: SHAMS AND BAHR TRADING COMPANY L.L.C.

Supplemental Information: Treasury says Shams & Bahr Trading Company, a Dubai-based hawala, is also owned by Abdulhasan, whom the release names as Abdulhasan Ali A. Namdar Al-Mandalawi. OFAC designated him under E.O. 13902 for having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, Shams & Bahr.

His listing carries two dates of birth 13 years apart, and an alternative Canadian nationality backed by a Canadian passport that expires on October 25, 2026. That passport gives this listing a Canadian connection that no other listing in this action has.

AL-MANDALAWI, Majid Ali Akbar Namdar

• AKA: AL-KURDI, Majid ‘Ali Akbar
• Address: Dubai, United Arab Emirates
• DOB: 20 Jul 1972
• nationality: Iraq
• alt. nationality: Turkey
• Gender: Male
• Passport: U22423385 (Turkey) expires 04 Oct 2029
• alt. Passport: B08552683 (Iraq) expires 14 Feb 2032
• Party Type: individual
• Linked to: SHAMS AND BAHR TRADING COMPANY L.L.C.

Supplemental Information: Treasury says Majid Al-Mandalawi uses a variety of Iraqi private banks to move funds through his hawala, Shams & Bahr, a Dubai-based exchange that has been used to send millions of dollars from Iraq to Iran by way of the UAE. OFAC designated him under E.O. 13902 on the same basis as Abdulhasan, for acting for or on behalf of Shams & Bahr. His primary listed passport is Turkish, with an Iraqi passport as the alternate.

The two Al-Mandalawi listings share the name elements Ali Akbar Namdar, and Treasury ties both men to Shams & Bahr. Neither the release nor the listings state a family relationship between them.

The following entities have been added to OFAC’s SDN List:

OFAC Program: [SDGT]  Global Terrorism Sanctions Regulations, 31 C.F.R. part 594

AIN AL IRAQ FOR PROTECTION SYSTEMS TECHNOLOGY AND AUDIO, VISUAL, AND COMMUNICATIONS SOLUTIONS COMPANY LTD

• AKA:
  • AYN AL-IRAQ COMPANY
  • EIN AL-IRAQ COMPANY
  • EYE OF IRAQ COMPANY
• Address: Baghdad, Iraq
• Secondary sanctions risk: section 1(b) of Executive Order 13224, as amended by Executive Order 13886
• Organization Established Date: 12 Apr 2010
• Company Number: 48457 (Iraq)
• Registration Number: 75493 (Iraq)
• Linked to: AL-MAKSUSI, Sayyid Salah Mahdi Hantush

Supplemental Information: Treasury describes Ain Al-Iraq as a PMC-affiliated procurement company that has supported the PMC as well as IRGC-QF-controlled networks and affiliated individuals in Iraq. According to Treasury, the Iraqi government has used the company in dealings among Iraq, Russia, Iran and China to acquire defense components, dealings that formed part of larger public corruption and sanctions evasion schemes in Iraq. The company has also been used, through its sanctions evasion networks, in an attempted purchase of U.S. defense articles. OFAC designated Ain Al-Iraq under E.O. 13224, as amended, for material support to al-Maksusi.

The release renders the name as Ain Al-Iraq For Protecting Technology and Audio, Visual, and Communications Solutions Company Ltd, which replaces “Protection Systems” with “Protecting” and so does not match the listed primary name. “Ain” means eye in Arabic, which accounts for the EYE OF IRAQ alias.

AL BROUJ FOR GENERAL CONTRACTING COMPANY

• AKA: AL-BROJ COMPANY FOR CONTRACTING, GENERAL TRADING, TRANSPORTATION LTD
• Address: Baghdad, Iraq
• Secondary sanctions risk: section 1(b) of Executive Order 13224, as amended by Executive Order 13886
• Company Number: 3219747 (Iraq)
• Linked to: AL AMERI, Abdullah Nadhim Luaibi

Supplemental Information: Al-Brouj is Al Ameri’s Iraq-based company, through which Treasury says he supplies goods and services to the PMC, including likely unlawful procurement of equipment with military applications, and maintains Russian-provided helicopters for Iraqi military organizations operating under IRGC-QF direction. OFAC designated Al-Brouj under E.O. 13224, as amended, for being owned, controlled, or directed by, or having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, Al Ameri.

The release uses the name Al-Brouj For General Contracting Company Ltd. The listed primary name omits “Ltd,” and the alias spells the name Al-Broj.

GOLD PRO SARL

• Address: Zaher El Din Property, Downtown Port, Beirut, Lebanon
• Secondary sanctions risk: section 1(b) of Executive Order 13224, as amended by Executive Order 13886
• Organization Type: Other financial service activities, except insurance and pension funding activities, n.e.c.
• Identification Number: 45432 (Lebanon)
• Linked to: ZAHER EL DINE, Hamdi

Supplemental Information: Mervat Jamil Zahreldine holds power of attorney at Gold Pro on behalf of her brother, Hamdi Zaher El Dine. Treasury notes that Gold Pro is not licensed by the Central Bank of Lebanon to import gold, and says Hamdi uses hawalas to buy gold in Dubai and couriers to carry it into Lebanon. OFAC designated Gold Pro under E.O. 13224, as amended, for being owned, controlled, or directed by, or having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, Hamdi. The company’s listed address, Zaher El Din Property, carries a form of the family’s name.

The Gold Pro and YIM Exchange listings carry only the E.O. 13224 section 1(b) secondary sanctions risk line. They lack the Additional Sanctions Information line referencing the Hizballah Financial Sanctions Regulations, which appears on Al-Makansi and Zahreldine, who are linked to the same person, and on the three individuals linked directly to Hizballah. The release does not explain the difference, so the presence or absence of that line should not be treated as a reliable marker of Hizballah exposure.

YOUSEF IBRAHIM MANSOUR AND PARTNER FOR EXCHANGE

• AKA:
  • YOUSSEF IBRAHIM MANSOUR AND CO. FOR EXCHANGE
  • YOUSSEF IBRAHIM MANSOUR FOR EXCHANGE
  • “YIM EXCHANGE”
• Addresses:
  • Shtaura, Bekaa, Lebanon
  • Zahle, Lebanon
• Secondary sanctions risk: section 1(b) of Executive Order 13224, as amended by Executive Order 13886
• Organization Established Date: 08 May 2006
• Organization Type: Other monetary intermediation
• Commercial Registry Number: 4000751 (Lebanon)
• Linked to: ZAHER EL DINE, Hamdi

Supplemental Information: Zahreldine holds a position at YIM Exchange on her brother’s behalf. Treasury says Hamdi directs family members who either work in, or are part of the legal structure of, several Lebanese exchange houses, while staying out of that legal structure himself. OFAC designated YIM Exchange under E.O. 13224, as amended, on the same owned, controlled or directed by basis as Gold Pro.

The release refers to the company only by its weak alias, YIM Exchange. The primary name spells the given name Yousef, while both strong aliases use Youssef.

OFAC Program: [IRAN-EO13902]  Executive Order 13902

SHAMS AND BAHR TRADING COMPANY L.L.C.

• AKA:
  • SHAMS & BAHR TRADING COMPANY L.L.C.
  • SHAMS AND BAHIR
  • SHAMS WA BAHR
  • SUN & SEA GENERAL TRADING CO LLC
  • SUN SEA GENERAL TRADING LLC
  • “SON AND SEA COMPANY”
• Addresses:
  • PO Box 81033, Al Riqa Street, 3, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
  • 69, Al Rigga Rd, Al Muraqqabat, Deira, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
  • Exhibition No 3, Al Muraqqabat, Deira, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
• Website: http://www.shamsandbahr.ae
• alt. Website: http://www.shamsbahr.com
• Organization Established Date: 19 Mar 2001
• Organization Type: Other monetary intermediation
• Commercial Registry Number: 56218 (United Arab Emirates)
• Business Registration Number: 524921 (United Arab Emirates)

Supplemental Information: Treasury describes Shams & Bahr as a Dubai-based exchange that Majid Al-Mandalawi operates as a hawala, moving money through a variety of Iraqi private banks, and says it has been used to remit millions of dollars from Iraq to Iran by way of the UAE. The company is also owned by Abdulhasan Al-Mandalawi. OFAC designated it under E.O. 13902 for operating in the financial sector of the Iranian economy.

The release includes a short explainer on hawala, which Treasury describes as an informal value transfer system that operates outside the regulated financial sector and relies on trust, personal relationships and longstanding community networks. Hawala is not inherently illicit. Treasury notes, however, that it appeals to people trying to evade sanctions because transactions often take place without the true names of the sender or recipient, do not pass through traditional banking networks, and may involve little or no recordkeeping.

Shams wa bahr means “sun and sea” in Arabic, which accounts for the SUN & SEA and SUN SEA aliases. The weak alias “SON AND SEA COMPANY” looks like a phonetic misrendering of the same name, and Al Riqa Street and Al Rigga Rd in the first two addresses appear to be two romanizations of the same Dubai street.

Sources

• OFAC, Program Tag Definitions for OFAC Sanctions Lists
• U.S. Department of the Treasury, Treasury Sanctions Key Hizballah Money Laundering Network, January 28, 2016