Names (Transliteration into Latin script)

Names

Identifying information

Reasons for listing

Date of listing

‘7.

Mohammad-Reza Gharaei ASHTIANI

(Farsi spelling)

Position(s): Deputy Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces

DOB: 1960

POB: Tehran, Iran

Nationality: Iranian

Gender: male

Mohammad-Reza Gharaei Ashtiani has been the Deputy Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces since August 2024.

He was the Minister of Defence of the Islamic Republic of Iran (August 2021-August 2024) and was responsible for the EU-listed Ministry of Defence and Armed Forces Logistics (MODAFL).

MODAFL is responsible for the planning, logistics and funding of Iran’s Armed Forces. It is also a key player in Iran’s defence industry with multiple conglomerates and subordinates active in research and development, maintenance and manufacturing of military equipment, including the manufacturing of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

MODAFL is also involved in the set-up of a joint plant for the production of UAVs and the sale of UAVs to Russia intended for use in Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine.

In his function as Deputy Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces, Mohammad-Reza Gharaei Ashtiani coordinates and oversees the conventional army and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and is a close associate of the Supreme Leader of Iran. As he oversees the IRGC, this also includes the IRGC Aerospace Force, responsible for Iran’s UAV program. He is thus in a supervising role for both the missile and the UAV program. In his role, he is also supporting Iranian military cooperation with Russia.

As Deputy Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces, Mohammad-Reza Gharaei Ashtiani is directly involved in Iran’s UAV and missile programmes and is involved in transferring Iran’s UAVs to Russia in support of its war of aggression against Ukraine.

31.5.2024

20.

Mohammad Reza KHIABANI

محمدرضا مدرس خیابانی

(Farsi spelling)

Position(s): Director of IRISL

Nationality: Iranian

Gender: male

Associated entities: Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines (IRISL); Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy (IRGCN); Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Research and Self-Sufficiency Jihad Organisation (IRGC/SSJO)

Mohammad Reza Khiabani is the director of the EU-listed Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines (IRISL), which is a major Iranian maritime carrier.

For years, ships belonging to or managed by IRISL or its affiliated companies, have been implicated in shipping military related cargo and other activities aimed at providing support to Russia in support of its war of aggression against Ukraine and to armed groups and entities undermining peace and security in the Middle East and the Red Sea region, in particular in relation with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and some of its branches, notably the (EU-listed) Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy (IRGCN) and the (EU-listed) Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Research and Self-Sufficiency Jihad Organisation (IRGC/SSJO).

The (EU-listed) Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy (IRGCN) converts container ships owned or previously owned by IRISL Group into drone carriers. The IRGCN is part of the IRGC, and includes an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) division and a missiles division. The IRGCN is involved in Iran’s UAV and missile programmes and involved in transferring Iran’s missiles to armed groups and entities undermining peace and security in the Middle East and the Red Sea region.

The IRGC/SSJO is a research and development unit that is part of the IRGC that develops and manufactures ground penetrating radar, communication systems, weaponry, combat vehicles and electronic cyberwarfare equipment. The IRGC/SSJO is involved in Iran’s UAV and missile programmes and in transferring Iranian UAVs to Russia in support of its war of aggression against Ukraine.

Therefore, in his principal managerial position as director of IRISL, Mohammad Reza Khiabani is involved in transferring Iran’s UAVs or missiles or related technologies to Russia in support of its war of aggression against Ukraine and to armed groups and entities undermining peace and security in the Middle East and the Red Sea region, and is associated with branches of the IRGC, in particular the (EU-listed) IRGC/SSJO and the (EU-listed) IRGCN.

18.11.2024’;

Names (Transliteration into Latin script)

Names

Identifying information

Reasons for listing

Date of listing

‘20.

Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines (IRISL)

گروه کشتیرانی جمهوری اسلامی ایران

(Farsi spelling)

Place of registration: Iran

Associated individuals: Mohammad Reza Khiabani (director)

Associated entities: Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy (IRGCN); Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Research and Self-Sufficiency Jihad Organisation (IRGC/SSJO)

Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines (IRISL) is a major Iranian maritime carrier.

For years, ships belonging to or managed by IRISL or its affiliated companies, have been implicated in shipping military related cargo and other activities aimed at providing support to Russia in support of its war of aggression against Ukraine and to armed groups and entities undermining peace and security in the Middle East and the Red Sea region, in particular in relation with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and some of its branches, notably the (EU-listed) Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy (IRGCN) and the (EU-listed) Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Research and Self-Sufficiency Jihad Organisation (IRGC/SSJO).

The (EU-listed) Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy (IRGCN) converts container ships owned or previously owned by IRISL Group into drone carriers. The IRGCN is part of the IRGC, and includes an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) division and a missiles division. The IRGCN is involved in Iran’s UAV and missile programmes and involved in transferring Iran’s missiles to armed groups and entities undermining peace and security in the Middle East and the Red Sea region.

The IRGC/SSJO is a research and development unit that is part of the IRGC that develops and manufactures ground penetrating radar, communication systems, weaponry, combat vehicles and electronic cyberwarfare equipment. The IRGC/SSJO is involved in Iran’s UAV and missile programmes and in transferring Iranian UAVs to Russia in support of its war of aggression against Ukraine.

Therefore, IRISL is involved in transferring Iran’s UAVs or missiles or related technologies to Russia in support of its war of aggression against Ukraine and to armed groups and entities undermining peace and security in the Middle East and the Red Sea region, and is associated with branches of the IRGC, in particular the (EU-listed) IRGC/SSJO and the (EU-listed) IRGCN.

18.11.2024’.