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ACTIVE Entity

IRANIAN REVOLUTIONARY GUARD CORPS: Comprehensive Sanctions Regime

Detailed analysis of sanctions against the IRGC and its subsidiaries, including designation basis, enforcement mechanisms, and impact on Iranian military capabilities.

gavel Sanction Record

Name / Identifier IRANIAN REVOLUTIONARY GUARD CORPS: Comprehensive Sanctions Regime
Type Entity
Sanctioned By
UNITED STATES EUROPEAN UNION
Date Listed 2017-10-13
Status ACTIVE
Legal Basis E.O. 13224, E.O. 13599

Additional Details

Sanctions Overview

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and its Quds Force have been subject to comprehensive sanctions under multiple U.S. and international authorities, representing one of the most extensive sanctions regimes targeting a military organization.

Issuing Authority

  • United States: OFAC SDN List, Foreign Terrorist Organization designation
  • Basis: E.O. 13224, E.O. 13599, Iran Threat Reduction Act
  • European Union: Council Regulation 267/2012

Designated Entities

IRGC Core

  • IRGC Ground Forces
  • IRGC Air Force (Aerospace)
  • IRGC Navy
  • Quds Force (external operations)

IRGC Economic Empire

The IRGC controls significant economic interests in Iran including construction, telecommunications, energy, and financial sectors. Sanctions target this economic network.

Sanctions Measures

  • Asset freeze globally
  • Prohibition on transactions with U.S. persons
  • Secondary sanctions for non-U.S. entities
  • Technology transfer restrictions
  • Travel bans on designated individuals

Evasion Networks

  • Front companies in UAE, Turkey, Malaysia
  • Cryptocurrency and informal value transfer
  • Oil smuggling through ship-to-ship transfers
  • Procurement networks for dual-use technology

Impact Assessment

Sanctions have constrained IRGC capabilities but the organization maintains significant operational capacity through indigenous production and evasion networks.

Classification: UNCLASSIFIED // FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY