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Iran diverts funds from domestic priorities during coronavirus outbreak to pay for Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps

Mar 20, 2020 8:00 am By Christine Douglass-Williams

“The US has announced a new round of sanctions against Iran” despite pressure from Russia, China and Pakistan to lift sanctions during the coronavirus outbreak. They argue that “ the country [Iran] is wrestling with lack of medical equipment and medicine it needs to import to battle the deadly disease,” as if Iran actually prioritized the well-being of its people.

Russia, China and Pakistan have been supportive of the Iranian regime. The Wall Street Journal pointed out that a strategic partnership with China lies at the root of Iran’s coronavirus outbreak; a Russian official declared last summer that “Iran will not be alone if the U.S. attacks.”

Russia also supports Iran joining a Moscow-Beijing Security Bloc, “viewed as an aspiring counterweight to NATO and the West.”

Meanwhile, Pakistan and Iran have made a joint pledge to tackle the spread of the virus together, despite Pakistan closing its borders to Iran.

Now it has emerged, unsurprisingly. that Iran is “diverting funds away from domestic priorities to pay for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps
(IRGC), a designated terrorist organization with lavishly-financed terrorist proxy forces across the Middle East.”

“Iran’s Terrorist IRGC Fundraises Off the Coronavirus, Gears Up to Suppress Protests,” by John Hayward, Breitbart, March 17, 2020:

Iran’s government has been criticized (and occasionally protested) for diverting funds away from domestic priorities to pay for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), a designated terrorist organization with lavishly-financed terrorist proxy forces across the Middle East.

These criticisms became especially vigorous once the coronavirus began rampaging across Iran, creating the deadliest hot zone outside of China.

On Sunday, Radio Farda caught an IRGC general actually fundraising off the coronavirus with a video ad:

Circulating a commercial video on his Telegram Channel, IRGC Brigadier General Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf (Ghalibaf) has called upon people to deposit money in a little-known institution’s bank account and help it contain the deadly virus.

The institution is named after the eighth Shiite Imam, Ali ibn Musa al-Reza, buried in Iran’s second-largest city, Mashhad. The “Imam Reza Headquarters,” claims that it manufactures protective masks in fifty workshops across Iran, and it has also promised unnamed state-own entities to produce twenty million masks for free distribution among the poverty-stricken people in Iran.

Shockingly, the “Imam Reza Headquarters” sounds like a dodgy operation:

The “headquarters” is officially registered as the Mehr al-Reza Jihadi Foundation.

The shady outfit’s website maintains that it was established in a popular, spontaneous move in 2013 to assist “deprived people” in cultural and social fields.

Nevertheless, the website does not provide the foundation’s articles of association, the names of people on its board of directors nor the sources of its income.

Digging further, one finds out that the foundation was officially registered in 2016. Therefore, it is not clear how the unregistered and unlicensed entity operated and even won government contracts between 2013 and 2016.

Still digging further, one finds out that a mid-ranking cleric, Gholam Reza Qassemian, is named as the chairman of the foundation’s board of directors.

Widely known as Qalibaf’s “nightingale”, Qassemian is praised for his singing video clips. He is also the manager of Meshkat Shi’ite seminary.

Qalibaf’s name has been tied to huge corruption scandals at the Tehran municipality, during his tenure as mayor. When in 2017, a new city council was elected, news about billions of dollars having disappeared from the city’s coffers were revealed. But Qalibaf’s hardliner allies mercilessly attacked the new mayor and his aides who were disclosing episodes of his corruption.

According to Radio Farda’s research, prior to profiteering off the coronavirus outbreak, the foundation generated much of its income by strong-arming local officials into making “contributions” to finance pilgrimages to the Shiite holy city of Karbala in Iraq.

There are hundreds of similar operations in Iran that siphon millions of dollars away from the impoverished population under the patronage of powerful officials and clerics. Many of them double as get-out-the-vote machines for the benefit of their patrons during elections, which is one reason why even the most blatantly corrupt Iranian officials never seem to lose them.

The Iranian regime will once again rely on the IRGC and its local militias to suppress public demonstrations. According to the opposition PMOI/MEK organization, the government is already making plans to “counter potential protests as the public outrage over the regime’s mishandling of the situation continues to rise.”

PMOI/MEK quoted an Iranian state newspaper worrying that public backlash over the coronavirus could link with “previous developments, including the November 2019 incidents,” meaning the regime’s savage response to an earlier round of protests over rising gas prices. An even more proximate threat to the regime’s power, but one unlikely to be mentioned by a state newspaper, were the protests that erupted in January after Iran shot down a Ukrainian jetliner and murdered everyone aboard.

PMOI/MEK noted that Iranian President Hassan Rouhani is already saying the coronavirus epidemic is over and making ominous noises about the need for police and military forces on the street to control unrest. State media is floating theories that opportunistic foreign agitators (meaning the United States) will use the coronavirus to overthrow the regime:…..

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Filed Under: Featured, Iran Tagged With: coronavirus, Imam Reza Headquarters, IRGC Brigadier General Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf (Ghalibaf), Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Mehr al-Reza Jihadi Foundation., Radio Farda


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Comments

  1. Emilie Green says

    Mar 20, 2020 at 8:06 am

    “Russia, China and Pakistan have been supportive of the Iranian regime.”

    That Chinese “support” explains why Iran was an early-on hot spot for the coronavirus as there was/is a lot of back-and-forth between the countries. Similarly with Italy. It too became an early-on hot spot because of the garment industry. Most/all of Milan’s companies use cheaper Chinese labor.

    • Manuele Lui says

      Mar 21, 2020 at 4:53 am

      They’re all partners in crime. THEY GET WHAT THEY WANT EVEN DECEASES.

  2. Frank Anderson says

    Mar 20, 2020 at 8:14 am

    “Russia, China and Pakistan have been supportive of the Iranian regime.”

    1. Pakistan has a common border with Iran.
    2. Pakistan has openly tested and has nuclear weapons.
    3. Iran has nuclear enrichment facilities far in excess of what is needed for electric power generation.
    4. Nuclear power generation is far more expensive than other sources, except for the “renewables”.
    5. The use of nuclear power generation creates as an automatic and natural consequence of consuming enriched Uranium, or Thorium, fissionable material that can be made into bombs.
    6. Iran has paid and participated in North Korea’s nuclear weapons and missile programs.

    Pretending Iran does not have right now not only all technology, but actual nuclear weapons is delusional. The only reason for delay is for the accumulation of a sufficient number to accomplish their desired result.

    • Westman says

      Mar 20, 2020 at 9:56 am

      A side benefit of a sadistic, demanding, Allah is the lack of trust between Islamic nations and the dumbing down of real education. Literacy, when only used to imbibe Islam, does not erase ignorance.

      Nowhere do we see real cooperation between Islamic nations in the economic sense though an OIC exists. They cooperate in declaring the image of Islam at the UN and the castigation of Israel yet not much else. The image of a united ummah seems only to be a reality between participants of the hajj.

      The 1979 “revolution” turned Iran from progressive to incompetence; enshrining men with little logic or technical experience as despotic leaders while driving the most intelligent Iranians out the door to the UK, Europe, and the US. It’s no accident that Iran hasn’t produced a nuclear bomb though all the information is available; trying for 3+ times as long as it took the US which started from first principles.

      Russia, China and Pakistan could easly help Iran develop a nuclear arsenal or just sell it to them along with the current arms sales. So why has it not happened? NO nation trusts Iran’s Mullahs.

      It is unlikely that Iran has a nuclear bomb nor the stable missile technology needed to avoid dropping it upon themselves. Yet it certainly has the means for a “dirty” bomb.

      It’s only a matter of time before the Iranian citizens revolt or the US and Israel are forced to act. Funding its “death squad” while the people languish is very, Banana Republic. Maybe the IRGC could nicknamed,”The Banana Republican Guards”.

      The possibility exists, that in a desperate bid to save itself, the Iranian regime will purposefully attack Israel, thereby committing its people to war when there is an inevitable response.

      • Frank Anderson says

        Mar 20, 2020 at 11:00 am

        Westman, you are entitled to courtesy, and to your views. No nation has ever set out to obtain nuclear weapons and failed. With all doubt long ago removed as to the fact that nuclear weapons are possible, and work, the whole process is easier and less expensive than the first efforts. Iran has money, time and all the resources, including local natural Uranium. Never discussed are the efforts of South Africa and “certain” South American countries who “had” nuclear weapons programs. I think it is beyond reasonable belief that Iran has poured tens of billions of dollars and spent decades on bomb and missile programs for no results. It also is not reasonable that using Pakistan and North Korea as sources of technology and locations for testing Iran dodges making public its present capacity.

        Like a stroke, the first real proof of the risk of a stroke is a stroke. The first proof of a nuclear weapons capability is the use of nuclear weapons. To me, that is reasonable. I wish and hope you are correct.

        • Westman says

          Mar 21, 2020 at 3:36 am

          Iran does have tangible results for all that expenditure and effort, including its missiles falling upon its own country. Its leadership also tells non-stop lies, brags beyond its capability, and fosters incompetence.

          You’re right that, given enough time, Iran would aquire a nuclear bomb. I think that either another revolution or outside forces will stop Iran’s Mullahs in time.

        • Frank Anderson says

          Mar 21, 2020 at 4:33 am

          W. PLEASE think about it. Has any other country spent as much money and time as Iran and failed to obtain nuclear weapons? No matter how ridiculously stupid we think they are, can they be that inept? Other countries have made and tested bombs in shorter time with less money. Do you really think Iran can’t? How many V-2 rockets failed at launch before many flew? Once all the boxes are checked, their off to the races.

        • gravenimage says

          Mar 21, 2020 at 2:59 pm

          Frank, we may never know–but given what we know about the Mullahs, I doubt they will refrain from bragging about wiping out Israel and the United States if they *did* have the bomb already.

  3. Frank Anderson says

    Mar 20, 2020 at 8:52 am

    Considering the ultimate goal of islam is death, and Shia islam is to bring about the return of the hidden and missing twelfth imam, giving priority to the IRGC instead of keeping people alive is consistent. They are not confused in their goals, why are we?

    • Westman says

      Mar 20, 2020 at 10:22 am

      Watching the activity on University campuses and thinking, “These are the leaders of tomorrow?”, it seems all the confused goals are reactions. We don’t like this or that, no airplanes in 2012, call me by my preferred pronoun or else, destroy Israel from the river to the sea, I wanna be a ctizen of the world, not the evil US, let everyone into America, etc. And I’m gonna make it happen because I will be a graduate of political science, social studies, gender transformation, etc.

      Short of a war or pandemic, there are no national goals nor any on the horizon.

  4. No Muzzies Here says

    Mar 20, 2020 at 10:13 am

    Iran is a state sponsor of terrorism. The sanctions must remain, and no more of American money must ever go to Iran, as it did under the Obama administration.

  5. ntesdorf says

    Mar 20, 2020 at 5:49 pm

    It is entertaining to see the Iranian Regime shooting itself in the other foot by diverting funds away from domestic priorities to pay for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. The Regime may not last much longer.

    • Frank Anderson says

      Mar 20, 2020 at 10:47 pm

      N., I may not understand the goal of Shia islam correctly. As I understand, their goal is to trigger a world-wide conflagration to bring back the missing twelfth imam, who has been in hiding for centuries. Assuming at least for the sake of discussion, (as I sincerely believe), that Iran HAS right now nuclear weapons, how long does the regime need to complete its self-destructive intentions? What better time and opportunity to trigger that conflagration than at its last gasp, much as Hitler intended with his “Nero decree” at the end of Nazi Germany?

      I continue with respect to the seemingly limitless number who disagree with me that suicide is self-killing, not the killing of others. A regime commits murder when it destroys its own people. The Jews who died in the Holocaust did not commit suicide by being Jewish. They were murdered.

      • gravenimage says

        Mar 20, 2020 at 10:57 pm

        Dear Frank, it is well established usage to refer to a nation’s foolish actions as being suicidal, even if it is the case that not all citizens of that nation are so foolish themselves.

        Robert Spencer himself uses these terms. To say that this is his sneering at Jews and blaming them for the Holocaust is simply not the case.

        I understand that you hate this term, but please do not mischaracterize its use.

        • Frank Anderson says

          Mar 20, 2020 at 11:47 pm

          GI, as much of an authority as Honored Robert Spencer is on islam, I am an authority on the difference between murder and suicide, both by education and experience. So is anyone else who understands law. I have lost count of the suicides I have witnessed, and have helped prevent at least 3. Murder is the unlawful killing of others. Suicide is killing one’s self, which is some jurisdictions may or may not be lawful. Murder is done directly or through others. Suicide is always done directly: YOU cannot commit MY suicide. Murder is done by weapons including betrayal of duties, ethical (such as family neglect or abuse) or official.

          Hitler and Goebbels proclaimed loudly, clearly and repeatedly “The Jews did it to themselves” as the Nazis were murdering them, so that the Nazis had no responsibility for collecting them, loading them on trains, gassing them and burning their bodies. The Jews did it all themselves. Now, whole nations are committing suicide by letting murderous leaders bring about their killing. That is no more true today than it was between 1940 and 45. It is being called suicide to avoid calling the betrayal of recognized fiduciary duties what it is, murder.

          The alternative but still correct description of the killing of societies and countries would be “destruction by betrayal of duties”, not suicide.

        • gravenimage says

          Mar 21, 2020 at 3:08 pm

          Frank, Robert Spencer is *not* like Hitler and Goebbels, even if you disapprove of his turn of phrase.

        • Frank Anderson says

          Mar 22, 2020 at 3:48 am

          GI, I would like to make as clear and unequivocal as humanly possible that I admire and respect both you and Robert Spencer. I support the effort to preserve liberty in the face of all totalitarian challenges. If you watch any of several documentaries about the Holocaust, not only Hitler and Goebbels, but MILLIONS of other Germans accepted the fantasy that the Jews were killing themselves. The people in countries (and religious “communities”) being betrayed by their leaders and conquered by invaders in cooperation with collaborators are not killing themselves. “YOU” cannot commit “MY” suicide. What benefit is obtained by misrepresenting murder as suicide? If clarity and truth were involved goals, why would Hitler and Goebbels tell such lies? “Those who cannot remember the lessons of the past are condemned to repeat them.” Jorge Santayana, The Life of Reason (1905).

    • SKA says

      Mar 21, 2020 at 5:50 am

      If ever the regime fails to pay the IRGC, it’s praetorian guard, or the clients of its “revolutionary” Bunyan’s (foundations) then the regime will fall.

      • SKA says

        Mar 21, 2020 at 5:53 am

        Its not it’s

        Bunyads not Bunyan’s

  6. gravenimage says

    Mar 20, 2020 at 10:44 pm

    Iran diverts funds from domestic priorities during coronavirus outbreak to pay for Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps
    ………………

    Priorities…

  7. OLD GUY says

    Mar 21, 2020 at 10:36 am

    No surprise here, a dictatorship always buts itself ahead of the people.

  8. Jramsix says

    Mar 21, 2020 at 12:38 pm

    You can say a lot about Iran’s leaders, but they are not dumb. Even The Emperors of Rome knew that they must pay the Praetorium guards better then anyone else.

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