By Pishtaz | 2024-09-11

The United Kingdom has blacklisted a unit of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Quds Force (IRGC-QF) and three Iranian nationals for engaging in activities that are intended to destabilize other countries.

On September 2, the UK Treasury's Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation announced the censure of IRGC-QF Unit 700 and three individuals: Abdolfatah Ahvazian, Behnam Shahriyari and Hamid Fazeli.

The move is part of broader sanctions targeting individuals and entities linked to the Iranian government, some issued in conjunction with the United States.

IRGC-QF Unit 700 is accused of involvement "in hostile activity by an armed group backed by the government of Iran" that is "intended to cause the destabilization of the United Kingdom or any other country," the Treasury said.

The three individuals also have been accused of engaging in "hostile activity" on behalf of the Iranian government.

Ahvazian is accused of "threatening, planning or conducting activity which is intended to cause the destabilization" of the United Kingdom and other countries by undermining their "integrity, prosperity or security."

Fazeli is a commander of IRGC Unit 340, which was designated during joint US-UK sanctions in February, along with IRGC-QF Unit 6000 and Unit 190.

He is accused of "giving support or assistance to armed groups threatening, planning or conducting activity intended to cause the destabilization of Israel."

Shahriyari has been accused of conduct intended to destabilize Israel, Iraq, Yemen and Lebanon.

'Hidden lifeline for IRGC'

IRGC-QF Unit 700 first came to light in June 2023, with reports revealing it was supplying weapons and military equipment to Iran-aligned militias in Syria and Hizbullah in Lebanon.

It is led by Gal Farsat, a former IRGC-QF officer with "significant ties in Iran, Syria and Lebanon," per The Counterterrorism Group, a global organization focused on detecting, deterring and defeating terrorism.

In a June 16, 2023, report, Ifmat.org described Unit 700 as "a critical conduit for the transfer of military resources to the regime's proxy forces across the region, operating as a hidden lifeline for the Quds Force."

"The unit is integral to finding and delivering essential provisions, arming and reinforcing various regional proxy groups," it said.

"This intricate network has come to the fore with reports of Unit 700's clandestine weapon and military equipment supplies to the IRGC and Hizbullah during the Syrian earthquake in February 2023," it added.

Following the earthquake, IRGC-QF Unit 700 delivered arms into Syria under the guise of humanitarian aid.