UNITED STATES SEIZES WEBSITES USED BY IRANIAN ISLAMIC RADIO AND TELEVISION UNION
" Pursuant To Court Orders Department Of Justice Seizes 33 Iranian Controlled & Operated Websites That Are Owned By A United States Company."
June 23, 2021 By Art Fletcher Reporting For: Englebrook Independent News,
WASHINGTON, DC.- On Wednesday, June 23, 2021, The United States Department of Justice announced, that on Tuesday, June 22, 2021, pursuant to Court Orders, The United States seized 33 websites used by The Iranian Islamic Radio and Television Union, (IRTVU) and three websites operated by Kata'ib Hizballah, (KH), in violation of U.S. Sanctions.
On October 22, 2020, The Office of Foreign Assets Control, (OFAC) designated IRTVU as a Specially Designated National (SDN) for being owned or controlled by The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Quds Force, (IRGC).
SDN's are prohibited from obtaining services, including website and domain services, in The United States without an OFAC License. OFAC's announcement explained that components of The Government of Iran, to include IRTVU and others like it, disguised as news organizations or media outlets, targeted The United States with disinformation campaigns and malign influence operations.
Thirty-three of the websites seized on June 22, 2021, were operated by IRTVU. The 33 domains are owned by a United States Company. IRTVU did not obtain a license from OFAC to utilize the domain names.
Three additional websites seized yesterday were operated by KH. On July 2, 2009, OFAC designated KH an SDN, and The Department of State designated KH a Foreign Terrorist Organization. The announcements described KH as an Iraqi Terrorist Organization that committed, directed, supported or posed a significant risk against Coalition or Iraqi Security Forces. OFAC further explained that the IRGC provides support to KH and other Iraqi Sia Militia Groups who target Coalition and Iraqi Security Forces.
The Three Domains operated by KH did not obtain a license from OFAC prior to utilizing the Domain Names.
These websites seizures were investigated by the U.S. Department of Commerce's Bureau of Industry and Security, Office of Export Enforcement and The Federal Bureau of Investigations, The National Security Division's Counterintelligence Control Section prosecuted the seizure.
FILED UNDER JUNE 23, 2021: NATIONAL: