Overview

Muhammad Qasim al-Bazzal is a U.S.-designated Lebanese financier for Hezbollah and Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps-Quds Force (IRGC-QF).“Treasury Designates Illicit Russia-Iran Oil Network Supporting the Assad Regime, Hizballah, and HAMAS,” U.S. Department of the Treasury, November 20, 2018, https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/sm553. The IRGC-QF specializes in foreign missions, providing training, funding, and weapons to extremist groups, including Iraqi insurgents, Hezbollah, and Hamas. On November 20, 2018, the U.S. Department of the Treasury designated al-Bazzal as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist for his association with Hezbollah.“Treasury Designates Illicit Russia-Iran Oil Network Supporting the Assad Regime, Hizballah, and HAMAS,” U.S. Department of the Treasury, November 20, 2018, https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/sm553.

Al-Bazzal allegedly co-founded various front companies—such as the Syria-based Talaqi Group and Hokoul S.A.L. Offshore (Hokoul)—to conduct dealings for the IRGC-QF to fund Hezbollah’s activities. Al-Bazzal also reportedly heads another enterprise called Nagham Al Hayat, where he conducts the legal and financial dealings of the company, and founded Tawafuk on June 26, 2017, where he serves as general manager.“Treasury Designates Illicit Russia-Iran Oil Network Supporting the Assad Regime, Hizballah, and HAMAS,” U.S. Department of the Treasury, November 20, 2018, https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/sm553; “Tawafuk,” IFMAT, September 9, 2019, https://www.ifmat.org/09/09/tawafuk/#page. As chairman of the board of directors at Talaqi Group, al-Bazzal is reportedly responsible for the company’s finances, contracts, and operations.“Treasury Designates Vast Iranian Petroleum Shipping Network That Supports IRGC-QF and Terror Proxies,” U.S. Department of the Treasury, September 4, 2019, https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/sm767. Additionally, it is reported that Lebanon-based Hokoul supplies the Syrian state-run oil company SYTROL with Iranian crude under IRGC-QF orders. Al-Bazzal and other Hezbollah officials have control over the contractual and financial obligations of Hokoul.“Treasury Designates Vast Iranian Petroleum Shipping Network That Supports IRGC-QF and Terror Proxies,” U.S. Department of the Treasury, September 4, 2019, https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/sm767.

Since late 2018, al-Bazzal has used the Talaqi Group and his other companies to finance, and coordinate IRGC-QF-linked oil shipments. Al-Bazzal also has overseen Talaqi Group’s partnership with Lebanon-based ALUMIX for aluminum shipments to Iran.“Rewards for Justice – Up to $10 Million Reward Offer for Information on Hizballah’s Financial Networks: Muhammad Qasir, Muhammad Qasim al-Bazzal, and Ali Qasir,” U.S. Department of State, October 23, 2020, https://www.state.gov/rewards-for-justice-up-to-10-million-reward-offer-for-information-on-hizballahs-financial-networks-muhammad-qasir-muhammad-qasim-al-bazzal-and-ali-qasir/. Given his role as a critical conduit for the financial dealings of Hezbollah, the U.S. Department of the Treasury designated al-Bazzal as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist on November 20, 2018.“Treasury Designates Illicit Russia-Iran Oil Network Supporting the Assad Regime, Hizballah, and HAMAS,” U.S. Department of the Treasury, November 20, 2018, https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/sm553. Following the designation, in early 2019, al-Bazzal reportedly sought to remove his name from all Talaqi Group company documents in order to evade U.S. sanctions.“Act of Terror, Information on…Lebanese Hizballah’s Financial Network,” Rewards for Justice, https://rewardsforjustice.net/english/lebanese_hizballah_financial_network.html. However, on June 25, 2020, the U.S. Treasury Department designated Talaqi Group as a Specially Designated National due to al-Bazzal’s history with the company.“Iran-related Designations; Iran-related Designation Update; Counter Terrorism Designations Updates,” June 25, 2020, https://home.treasury.gov/policy-issues/financial-sanctions/recent-actions/20200625.

On October 23, 2020, the U.S. Department of State’s Rewards for Justice program offered a reward of up to $10 million for information on al-Bazzal.“This Week in Iran Policy,” U.S. Department of State, October 30, 2020, https://www.state.gov/this-week-in-iran-policy-23/.