| More

Iran: Breakdown of Financial Backing for Terrorist Groups

The Islamic Republic of Iran is widely recognized as the world's leading state sponsor of terrorism,[1] providing funds, training and weapons to terrorist groups including Hezbollah, Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), Hamas and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine-General Command (PFLP-GC).[2] Iran also assists both Shia and Sunni groups in Iraq[3] and the Taliban in Afghanistan.[4] Additionally, Iran has said it will share its nuclear know-how with Islamic countries or groups as it pursues nuclear technology in defiance of the U.N. Security Council.[5]

Iran funds terrorist groups in the following manner:

Hamas: $30 million annually from 1993 – 2006, as well as several hundred million yearly between 2006 and 2009.[6] Iran has also trained almost 1,000 Hamas terrorists in Iran, supporting their travel to Iran through Syria and providing instruction in rockets and bombs, tactical warfare, weapons operation and sniper tactics.[7] Following a November 2006 visit to Iran by Hamas leaders, $250 million was pledged to help the Hamas regime deal with the Israeli embargo.[8] Iran provides the vast majority of Hamas’ weaponry.[9] Following the Israeli offensive against Hamas in Feb. 2009, Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal visited Tehran praising it for aiding its "victory."[10] In August 2009, Meshaal stated that post-election violence in Iran should not hinder Ahmadinejad’s support for Hamas.[11]

Hezbollah: Over $200 million a year,[12] plus a reported $300 million after the Hezbollah-Israel war in the summer of 2006.[13] At least 4,500 Hezbollah operatives have received intensive training from Iran.[14] In violation of United Nations Resolution 1701,[15] Iran has re-supplied the Shia terror group with Katyusha rockets, surface-to-air rockets and anti-tank weapons;[16] Hezbollah moreover provides training camps and financial assistance to Hamas.[17] In an interview given to an Iranian news agency, Hezbollah's leader that his group would continue to be "obedient" to Iran.[18] In June 2008, the US Treasury Department designated a number of Venezuelans as aiding Iran's financial network backing Hezbollah through this South American country.[19]

Armed Forces of Columbia (FARC): Iranian terrorists allegedly trained with FARC guerillas.[20] The 2007 U.S. government’s terrorism Country Reports highlighted Iran’s close ties to Venezuela as cause for concern due to President Hugo Chavez’s ‘ideological sympathy’ for regional terror groups, which previously resulted in illicit arms smuggling and drug deals.[21]

Iraq insurgents: $3 million monthly.[22] Insurgents regularly receive intensive training in Iran.[23] Iran provides explosively formed penetrators and other advanced weaponry (EFP).[24] Weapons captured from both Shia and Sunni groups bear markings of Iranian manufacture.[25]

Palestinian Islamic Jihad: In April 2006 Iran reportedly transferred almost $2 million to the militant group.[26]

Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine-General Command: No direct funding, but the terrorist organization runs Iranian training camps in Syria and Lebanon.[27]

Taliban: Iran has provided rocket-propelled grenades, C-4 explosives, 107mm mortars, small arms and surface-to-air missiles.[28]

Provisional Irish Republican Army: Iran plotted in the early 1990s to aid the Provisional IRA with guns, drugs and money, though this was intercepted by British intelligence.[29]

Bosnia-Herzegovina: During the 1990s, Iran sent arms to the Muslim-led Bosnian government, a move that violated a United Nations embargo prohibiting armament of parties involved in the civil war.[30] The Bosnian prime minister visited Iran in 1996, at which time he said his country would always remember the ‘aid’ sent by Iran.[31] In addition, between 2004 and 2007 over 300 Iranian operatives reportedly entered Bosnia-Herzegovina to aid Muslim fighters.[32]

[1] “State Sponsors of Terrorism,” U.S. Department of State, Apr. 30, 2009, http://www.state.gov/s/ct/rls/crt/2008/122436.htm

[2] “State Sponsors of Terrorism,” U.S. Department of State, Apr. 30, 2009, http://www.state.gov/s/ct/rls/crt/2008/122436.htm

[3] Rubin, Alissa J., "U.S. Suspects That Iran Aids Both Sunni and Shiite Militias," The New York Times, A12, April 12, 2007

[4] Farmer, Ben, “Iranian Weapons Getting through to Taliban,” Telegraph, June 8, 2009, http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/afghanistan/5477283/Iranian-weapons-getting-through-to-Taliban.html; Wright, Robin, "Iranian Flow Of Weapons Increasing, Officials Say; Arms Shipments Tracked To Iraqi, Afghan Groups," The Washington Post, June 3, 2007; http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/06/02/AR2007060201020.html; Blair, Tony, "What I've learned," The Economist, May 31, 2007, http://www.economist.com/opinion/displaystory.cfm?story_id=9257593

[5] “Iran to ‘share nuclear technology with Islamic countries,’” Telegraph, Sep. 15, 2005, http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/1498456/Iran-to-share-nuclear-technology-with-Islamic-countries.html

[6] Wurmser, Meyrav, “Iran-Hamas Alliance,” Hudson Institute, Oct. 4, 2007, https://www.hudson.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=publication_details&id=5167; “Iranian Support of Hamas,” Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center, Jan. 12, 2009, p. 20, http://www.terrorism-info.org.il/malam_multimedia/English/eng_n/pdf/iran_e004.pdf

[7] “Senior Hamas operative figure tells London Sunday Times’ Gaza Strip correspondent about Iranian and Syria military aid, detailing the training received by hundreds of Hamas terrorist operatives and describing the transmission to Hamas of Iranian technical know-how for the manufacture of rockets and IED,” The Intelligence and Terrorist Information Center, Mar. 17, 2008,
http://www.terrorisminfo.org.il/malam_multimedia/English/eng_n/html/hamas_160308e.htm;
Colvin, Marie, “Hamas wages Iran’s proxy war on Israel,” The Times, Mar. 9, 2008,
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/middle_east/article3512014.ece

[8] Wurmser, Meyrav, “Iran-Hamas Alliance,” Hudson Institute, Oct. 4, 2007, https://www.hudson.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=publication_details&id=5167

[9] Cohen, Yoram and Matthew Levitt, “Hamas Arms Smuggling: Egypt’s Challenge,” The Washington Institute for Near East Policy, Policy Watch #34, Mar. 2, 2009, http://www.washingtoninstitute.org/templateC05.php?CID=3020

[10] "Hamas leader praises Iran's help in Gaza 'victory'," CNN, Feb. 1, 2009, http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/meast/02/01/iran.hamas/index.html

[11] "Hamas chief: Iran turmoil won't affect support," Taiwan News, Aug. 16, 2009, http://www.etaiwannews.com/etn/news_content.php?id=1032777&lang=eng_news

[12] “State Sponsors of Terrorism,” U.S. Department of State, Apr. 30, 2009, http://www.state.gov/s/ct/rls/crt/2008/122436.htm

[13] Ghattas, Kim, "Regional powers fight over Lebanon," BBC News, April 27, 2007, http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6595909.stm

[14] Fisk, Robert, “Hizbollah turns to Iran for new weapons to wage war on Israel,” The Independent, Apr. 8, 2008, http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/fisk/hizbollah-turns-to-iran-for-new-weapons-to-wage-war-on-israel-805763.html

[15] UN Security Council Resolution No. 1701, Section 15, http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4785963.stm

[16] Hughes, Robin, "Iran Replenishes Hizbullah's Arms Inventory," Jane's Defence Weekly, Jan.3, 2007

[17] "Lebanon: The Israel-Hamas-Hezbollah Conflict," Congressional Research Service, Sept. 15, 2006, http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/mideast/RL33566.pdf

[18] "Official: Nasrallah Follows Path of Iranian Leader," Fars News Agency, Aug. 16, 2009, http://english.farsnews.com/newstext.php?nn=8805251447

[19] Daremblum, Jaime, "Chavez's Dangerous Liaisons," The Weekly Standard, Sept. 19, 2008, http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/015/580ajury.asp

[20] “Colombian General Testifies: Foreign Terrorists Aiding FARC,” Voice of America, April 24, 2002, http://www.voanews.com/english/archive/2002-04/a-2002-04-24-25-Colombian.cfm?moddate=2002-04-24

[21] McKeeby, David I., “Terrorism, Crime Often Linked, Says Report,” America.gov, May 6, 2008, http://www.america.gov/st/peacesec-english/2008/May/20080506115611idybeekcm0.3099176.html

[22] Partlow, Joshua, "U.S.: Iran, Hezbollah Training Iraqi Militants," The Washington Post, July 2, 2007, http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/07/02/AR2007070200174.html?hpid=topnews; “U.S. commander: Iran still supports Iraq attacks,” USA Today, June 30, 2009, http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/iraq/2009-06-30-odierno-iraq-iran_N.htm

[23] Partlow, Joshua, "U.S.: Iran, Hezbollah Training Iraqi Militants," The Washington Post, July 2, 2007http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/07/02/AR2007070200174.html?hpid=topnews

[24] Gordon, Michael R.; Shane, Scott, "Behind U.S. Pressure on Iran, Long-Held Worry Over a Deadly Device in Iraq," The New York Times, March 27, 2007

[25] Rubin, Alissa J., "U.S. Suspects That Iran Aids Both Sunni and Shiite Militias," The New York TImes, A12, April 12, 2007

[26] Lefkovits, Etgar, "Police thwart pre-election bombing," The Jerusalem Post, March 21, 2006, http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1139395647937&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

[26] “Iranian activities in support of the Palestinian intifada,” Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Jan. 23, 2003, retrieved July 8, 2008, http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/MFAArchive/2000_2009/2003/1/Iranian%20activities%20in%20support%20of%20the%20Palestinian%20i

[27] Levitt, Matthew A., "Iranian State Sponsorship of Terror: Threatening U.S. Security, Global Stability, and Regional Peace," The Washington Institute for Near East Policy, Feb. 16, 2005, www.washingtoninstitute.org/html/pdf/Iran-Testimony-2-16-05.pdf, pg. 5

[28] Farmer, Ben, “Iranian Weapons Getting through to Taliban,” Telegraph, June 8, 2009, http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/afghanistan/5477283/Iranian-weapons-getting-through-to-Taliban.html; Wright, Robin, "Iranian Flow Of Weapons Increasing, Officials Say; Arms Shipments Tracked To Iraqi, Afghan Groups," The Washington Post, June 3, 2007; http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/06/02/AR2007060201020.html; Blair, Tony, "What I've learned," The Economist, May 31, 2007, http://www.economist.com/opinion/displaystory.cfm?story_id=9257593; Harding, Thomas, "Taliban 'using missiles from Iran to target British troops," The Daily Telegraph, May 22, 2007

[29] Savill, Annika, "Iran plot to aid IRA exposed: Secret service uncovers scheme involving guns, drugs and money as Ulster violence claims more victims," The Independent, April 29, 1994, http://www.independent.co.uk/news/iran-plot-to-aid-ira-exposed-secret-service-uncovers-scheme-involving-guns-drugs-and-money-as-ulster-violence-claims-more-victims-1373060.html

[30] Jehl, Douglas, "U.S. Looks Away as Iran Arms Bosnia," New York Times, April 15, 1995, http://www.nytimes.com/1995/04/15/world/us-looks-away-as-iran-arms-bosnia.html

[31] "Bosnian Praises Iran's Aid," New York Times, March 4, 1996, http://www.nytimes.com/1996/03/04/world/bosnian-praises-iran-s-aid.html

[32] "More than 300 Iranian Intelligence operatives entered BiH from 2004 to 2007," March 6, 2009, http://www.necenzurirano.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1275&Itemid=1

The Israel Project authorizes and welcomes use of any part or all of this release/statement free of charge and without attribution.

Latest videos and podcasts from TIP

| More Iran: Breakdown of Financial Backing for Terrorist Groups

| More

Iran: Breakdown of Financial Backing for Terrorist Groups