The United States Department of State’s Rewards for Justice program has announced a $15 million reward for information leading to individuals allegedly aiding Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). The US specifically named several Chinese nationals accused of facilitating illegal transactions that support Iran’s military capabilities.
According to the US Department of State, these individuals have been assisting the IRGC since 2007, providing US export-controlled dual-use technology to Iran. This technology is believed to have been used in developing UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles), ballistic missile systems, and other military equipment.
One of the accused, Emily Liu, allegedly used Chinese-based companies to ship US-origin electronic components to firms linked to the IRGC. In January 2024, the US Department of Justice charged Liu and three other Chinese nationals—Emma Lee, Stephen Yung, and Sydney Chung—with multiple federal offenses for their involvement in these transactions.
The Rewards for Justice program has also taken to social media to encourage informants to come forward. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), the program warned:
“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 Corps (IRGC).”
This move is part of the US effort to disrupt the IRGC’s financial network, which is believed to be linked to Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon, and Iran-backed militias in Iraq.
