The Israel Project

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] The U.S. State Department's 2009 annual terrorism report states that Iran has provided "hundreds of millions of dollars" in support to Hezbollah, and has trained thousands of Hezbollah fighters at camps in Iran. 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]
  
  "Despite its pledge to support the stabilization of Iraq, Iranian authorities continued to provide lethal support, including weapons, training, funding, and guidance, to Iraqui Shia militant groups that targeted U.S. and Iraqi forces," according to a 2009 U.S. State Department terror report. []
  
  "Iran's Qods Force continued to supply Iraqi militants with Iranian-produced advanced rockets, sniper rifles, automatic weapons, and mortars that have killed Iraqi and coalition Forces, as well as civilians," according to the U.S. State Department report. "The Qods Force, in concert with Lebanese Hezbollah, provided training outside of Iraq and advisors inside Iraq for Shia militants in the construction and use of sophisticated improvised explosive device technology and other advanced weaponry."

• 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's Qods Force provided training to the Taliban in Afghanistan on small unit tactics, small arms, explosives, and indirect fire weapons, according to a U.S. State Department terror report. Since at least 2006, Iran has arranged arms shipments to select Taliban members, including small arms and associated ammunition, rocket propelled grenades, mortar rounds, 107mm rockets, and plastic explosives, according to the 2009 U.S. State Department report.
  
  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