Thread by @HeshmatAlavi

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Let’s talk about an interesting development in #Iran.
President @HassanRouhani has just appointed recently sacked Central Bank chief Valiollah Seif as his money/banking advisor.
entekhab.ir/fa/news/429369…

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Who is Valiollah Seif?
home.treasury.gov/news/press-rel…

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“U.S. Treasury Dept’s OFAC imposed sanctions on the Governor & a senior official of the Central Bank of Iran, an Iraq-based bank & its chairman, and a key Hizballah official, all of whom have moved millions of dollars on behalf of the IRGC-Qods Force to Hizballah.”

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“They were designated as Specially Designated Global Terrorists (SDGTs) pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 13224, which targets terrorists and those providing support to terrorists or acts of terrorism.”

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“Iran’s Central Bank Governor covertly funneled millions of dollars on behalf of the IRGC-QF through Iraq-based al-Bilad Islamic Bank to enrich and support the violent and radical agenda of Hizballah.

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Seif was very active in funding #Iran’s IRGC, especially the Quds Force, in Iraq.
One of the main banks Seif was in contact with was #Iraq’s Al-Bilad Islamic Bank (founded in 2006) chaired by Aras Habib Mohammad Karim.
Karim is also blacklisted by the U.S. Treasury Dept.

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Al-Bilad Islamic Bank was involved in transferring money from #Iran to Shiite militias in #Iraq, especially prior to the 2009 elections that obtained a second term for Nouri al-Maliki.
Karim has very close relations with now former prime minister Nouri al-Maliki.

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The main investor in Al-Bilad Islamic Bank is an individual by the name of Osam al-Assadi, known as the richest businessman in #Iraq, a source says. He is a close supporter of Nouri al-Maliki and provided the funding necessary for his elections campaign.

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Al-Assadi enjoys Iraqi government protection. 24 officers & soldiers of #Iraq's Interior Ministry, equipped with a number of armored vehicles, are missioned to his protection.

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Returning to Karim:
He went to #Iran with his family in 1981 & began working with the Intelligence Ministry. Prior to 2003, he commuted back & forth between Iran & #Iraq Kurdistan. He began working with Ahmad Chalabi in the National Congress.

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Sources say Karim was involved in planning & assassinating a large number of #Iraq’s university professors, scientists, former military commanders, pilots & security ranks & files.
#Iran-backed death squads were accused of carrying out these murders.

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Karim also transferred intelligence archives & #Iraq Defense Ministry documents to #Iran, sources say.
Habib fled to Tehran after the U.S. accused Ahmad Chalabi in 2004 of providing US intelligence to Iran, as he personally provided US intelligence to the IRGC, sources add.

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Habib returned to #Iraq in 2011 & #Iran’s Intel Ministry asked then PM Nouri Maliki to appoint Habib as Iraq’s intel chief. Maliki was unable to come through due to US opposition in this regard.

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Habib has very close relations with Maliki & both are pro-#Iran figures in #Iraq. Habib is still considered an Iranian intel figure & (at least was) very close to IRGC Quds Force chief Qassem Suleimani.

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The objective of this thread was to provide knowledge about Valiollah Seif, #Iran’s former Central Bank chief & now @HassanRouhani’s currency/banking advisor.

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As always, the conclusion is yours to make.

I welcome any & all constructive feedback.

Thanks for reading.

Best!