Overview

Sultan Khalifah As’ad is a U.S.-designated senior official for the Hezbollah Executive Council—a sub-council which oversees political party and organizational management, as well as social, cultural, and educational activities that ultimately reports to Hezbollah’s Shura Council—who also serves as a senior official for the group’s central municipal portfolio.“Treasury Targets Hizballah Executive Council Companies and Official,” U.S. Department of the Treasury, September 17, 2020, https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/sm1126; “Hezbollah: Background and Issues for Congress,” Congressional Research Service, January 3, 2011, https://fas.org/sgp/crs/mideast/R41446.pdf.

As’ad heads Hezbollah’s finance unit which is responsible for the management of the organizations, bookkeeping, and allocation of funds to other units within the group. Additionally, the finance unit manages Hezbollah’s investments. This unit is closely associated with Iran as most of the organization’s financial assets are reportedly held at Saderat, an Iranian bank.Dr. Shmuel Bar, “Lebanese Hizballah – Political, Ideological and Organizational Highlights,” National Defense University, https://cco.ndu.edu/Portals/96/Documents/Articles/Lebanese-Hizballah-Ideological-and-Organizational-Highlights_Shmuel_Bar.pdf.

As’ad has held the position of senior official for Hezbollah’s central municipal portfolio since 2011. According to the U.S. Department of the Treasury, as of early 2019, As’ad was responsible for providing financial and legal instructions to dozens of companies, including Arch and Meamar, that were subordinate to the organization’s Executive Council. Additionally, he reported to and received guidance from Executive Council Chairman Hashim Safi al-Din on measures to instruct company directors and Hezbollah’s Finance Committee.“Treasury Targets Hizballah Executive Council Companies and Official,” U.S. Department of the Treasury, September 17, 2020, https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/sm1126.

On September 17, 2020, the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) listed As’ad as a Specially Designated National for providing project guidance to companies who concealed money transfers to Hezbollah’s accounts.Daphne Psaledakis, “U.S. blacklists Hezbollah official, Lebanon-based companies,” Reuters, September 17, 2020, https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-lebanon-sanctions/u-s-blacklists-hezbollah-official-lebanon-based-companies-idUSKBN2682CO; “Counter Terrorism Designations; Iran/Cyber-related Designations,” U.S. Department of the Treasury, September 17, 2020, https://home.treasury.gov/policy-issues/financial-sanctions/recent-actions/20200917.