What were the US Treasury delegation's demands?
A high-ranking U.S. Treasury delegation that visited Beirut Monday pushed Lebanese officials to crack down on the flow of funding to Hezbollah. Local and western media outlets reported a list of demands conveyed by the delegation.
1. Shutting down Hezbollah-affiliated al-Qard al-Hasan, a nonprofit organization operating outside the Lebanese financial system as a quasi-bank.
2. Monitoring exchange houses and money transfer companies.
3. Prosecuting people who are violating sanctions and using institutions to fund Hezbollah.
4. Preventing Hezbollah from benefiting from all public institutions.
5. Implementing stringent screening procedures at Beirut's international airport to prevent the transfer of funds coming from Iran to Lebanon.
6. Disarming Hezbollah.
7. Monitoring border crossings and closing illegal crossings.
8. Taking the necessary financial reforms to end the cash economy in Lebanon.
Since last year's war, Lebanon has implemented more stringent screening procedures at its sole international airport, and direct flights from Iran — Hezbollah's main backer — have been stopped.
But Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence John K. Hurley, who came with the delegation, said funds for Hezbollah continue to come in as cash and gold carried in suitcases. Before arriving in Lebanon, the U.S. delegation visited the United Arab Emirates and Turkey and urged them to choke off the flow of funds coming from Iran to Lebanon. Hezbollah has also moved money through cryptocurrency, the Associated Press said.
The Treasury had announced, before visiting Beirut, new sanctions that it said target financial operatives who channel funds to Hezbollah through exchange shops.
It said Hezbollah is using exchange houses to take advantage of Lebanon’s cash-based financial sector.
Source: Naharnet, Associated Press
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