IRGC profits from sanctions as foreign investors shy away from Iran

With potential competitors increasingly wary of doing business with Iran, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has arguably seen its influence grow in recent years, despite being targeted by sanctions. But there are signs that the punishment may finally be starting to hurt

The four rounds of United Nations sanctions imposed on Iran in 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2010 to persuade it to halt uranium enrichment, targeted ten individuals and 21 entities linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), requiring states to freeze their assets and “exercise vigilance” in allowing those named to enter or cross their territories.

The targeting of IRGC-linked enterprises was regarded as a way of striking at the regime: as US secretary of state Hillary Clinton told a town hall meeting in Doha in February 2010, they were seen as “in effect, supplanting the government of Iran”
Issue 930 - 30 August 2012. Read more

The growing influence of the IRGC

Established by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini in 1979, shortly after the Islamic revolution, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has an estimated 120,000 personnel fulfilling functions related to internal security, defence and regime survival.
Issue 930 - 30 August 2012. Read more

Sanctions target Tehran, but it is West that is losing goodwill

When devastating earthquakes hit Iran’s north-east on 11 August, questions were raised about the impact of sanctions on the rescue of survivors. “Helicopters had to suspend rescue operations during the night as Iran — under international sanctions over its nuclear programme — is barred from purchasing night-vision material,” the New York Times wrote on 12 August.
Issue 930 - 30 August 2012. Read more