Iraqis begin to transfer their financial assets to Iran for fear of new US sanctions affecting 76 people
BAGHDAD (Reuters) – Iraqi figures linked to close ties with Iran have begun to transfer their financial assets to them, fearing new US sanctions would prompt the central bank to freeze their assets, a Gulf report said.
The report, which was published by the Saudi newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat on Saturday, July 27, 2019, said that most of the circles close to the figures and the relevant Iraqi authorities from Iran are now feeling a real danger to their interests and the movement of their funds in Iraq and some Arab countries, especially after the US Treasury sanctions that have lengthened Four figures, on charges of corruption and violations of human rights, namely: the commander of the «Brigade 30» in the popular crowd »Pinoy, the network of the promise of the Almighty, the Chaldean Christian leader of the« 50th Brigade »in the« crowd »also in Benin, Ryan Chaldean, The former, Nofal al-Akoub, and the head of the “Axis” gang Ahmed Al-Jubouri.
The Central Bank of Iraq, Thursday 25 July 2019, circulated a circular to the rest of the banks and financial institutions, on the lack of financial dealings with the four figures listed on what he called «international sanctions».
“Your institutions should know the names on the list of international sanctions on 17-7-2019,” the bank said in its circular. He added: “If any name has a deal or account with your institutions, it is frozen and prevent any financial deal with the bank, and prevent access to the currency of the dollar, and provide this bank with all bank accounts and any other information of his own.
The newspaper quoted a source who said he knew the details of what is happening in the circles close to Iran, that «some Iraqi personalities are moving strongly these days, to transfer part of their investments and funds to various regions and banks in Iran, to avoid the sanctions expected against them by the US Treasury».
“Many of these people are now aware that they are targeted by the American side, and will later include a new wave of sanctions, and believe that Iran is the only country where their money can be free from US sanctions. Most of the money comes out in different ways, Wild, because it can not be transferred through official banks ».
He believes that “targeting the US Treasury for four figures marks the beginning of the serious US-Iranian conflict in Iraq, given that Americans know that Nineveh was increasingly influenced by Iran’s groups during and after the war against the Da’ash organization.”
“There are other US lists on the way,” he said. “There are dozens of Iraqi figures in the Shiite and Sunni regions, including political leaders and leaders of armed factions,” indicating that “the total number of characters that will include US sanctions is around 76.”