US offers $15 million reward for information on Chinese nationals accused of aiding Iran

US offers $15 million reward for information on Chinese nationals accused of aiding Iran

The US Department of State’s Rewards for Justice program is offering up to $15 million for information on individuals supporting Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), specifically naming several Chinese nationals.

The reward aims to help dismantle the IRGC’s financial networks, including its Qods Force branch. According to an article published on the US Department of State’s official website, the IRGC has been involved in funding groups such as Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon, and Iran-backed militias in Iraq by supplying military equipment.

The US alleges that the named Chinese nationals have been assisting the IRGC since 2007 by supplying Iran with US export-controlled dual-use technology.

According to the Department of State, Chinese national Emily Liu used companies in China to send US-origin electronic components to firms linked to the IRGC, facilitating the production of UAVs, ballistic missile systems, and other military equipment.

In January 2024, the US Department of Justice charged Liu and three other Chinese nationalsâ€"Emma Lee, Stephen Yung, and Sydney Chungâ€"with multiple federal offences for their alleged involvement in these transactions.

The Rewards for Justice program has also taken to social media to encourage potential informants. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), the official account stated, “These individuals illegally export U.S. high-tech parts to Iran which are used to build military armaments. Sales of these weapons help fund terrorism by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Force (IRGC).”