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3/19/2020

Treasury Designates Large-Scale IRGC-QF Counterfeiting Ring | U.S. Department of the Treasury

Treasury Designates Large-Scale IRGC-QF Counterfeiting Ring
November 20, 2017

Iranian Network Prints Counterfeit Yemeni Bank Notes for IRGC-Qods Force
WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Department of the Treasury's O ice of Foreign Assets Control
(OFAC) designated a network of individuals and entities involved in a large-scale scheme to help
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Qods Force (IRGC-QF) counterfeit currency to support
its destabilizing activities. This network employed deceptive measures to circumvent European
export control restrictions and procured advanced equipment and materials to print counterfeit
Yemeni bank notes potentially worth hundreds of millions of dollars for the IRGC-QF. The IRGCQF was designated pursuant to the global terrorism Executive Order (E.O.) 13224.
"This scheme exposes the deep levels of deception the IRGC-Qods Force is willing to employ
against companies in Europe, governments in the Gulf, and the rest of the world to support its
destabilizing activities. Counterfeiting strikes at the heart of the international financial system,
and the fact that elements of the government of Iran are involved in this behavior is completely
unacceptable," said Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin. "This counterfeiting scheme exposes
the serious risks faced by anyone doing business with Iran, as the IRGC continues to obscure its
involvement in Iran's economy and hide behind the façade of legitimate businesses to
perpetrate its nefarious objectives."

REZA HEIDARI AND PARDAZESH TASVIR RAYAN CO.
Reza Heidari (Heidari) is being designated today for having acted for or on behalf of the IRGC-QF
and having assisted in, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for,
or financial or other services to or in support of, the IRGC-QF.
Pardavesh Tasvir Rayan Co. (Rayan Printing) is being designated today for being controlled by
Heidari; for having acted for or on behalf of the IRGC-QF; having assisted, sponsored, or
provided financial, material, or technological support for, or financial or other services to or in
support of, the IRGC-QF; and being owned by Tejarat Almas Mobin Holding, another Iranian
company also being designated today.
https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/sm0219

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Treasury Designates Large-Scale IRGC-QF Counterfeiting Ring | U.S. Department of the Treasury

Heidari played a key role in procuring secure printing equipment and materials for the IRGC-QF
in support of the group's currency counterfeiting scheme. Heidari served as the managing
director of Iran-based Rayan Printing, a company involved in printing counterfeit Yemeni rial
bank notes potentially worth hundreds of millions of dollars for the IRGC-QF, as of late 2016.
Heidari used front companies to obfuscate the actual end user and facilitate deceptive
transactions when dealing with European suppliers of secure printing equipment and materials.

FORENT TECHNIK AND PRINTING TRADE CENTER
ForEnt Technik GmbH is being designated today for being owned or controlled by Heidari, while
Printing Trade Center GmbH (PTC) is being designated for having acted for or on behalf of, and
assisted in, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or financial
or other services to or in support of, Heidari.
Heidari used German-based ForEnt Technik GmbH and PTC as front companies to deceive
European suppliers, circumvent export restrictions, and acquire advanced printing machinery,
security printing machinery, and raw materials in support of the IRGC-QF's counterfeit currency
capabilities. These raw materials included watermarked paper and specialty inks from
European suppliers. Heidari is the Managing Director and sole shareholder of ForEnt Technik
Gmbh.

MAHMOUD SEIF AND TEJARAT ALMAS MOBIN
Mahmoud Seif is being designated today for having assisted, sponsored, or provided financial,
material, or technological support for, or other services to or in support of, the IRGC-QF. Tejarat
Almas Mobin Holding is being designated today for being controlled by Seif.
Seif is the managing director of Tejarat Almas Mobin, the parent company of Rayan Printing.
Heidari and Seif coordinated on the procurement of raw supplies and equipment that enabled
the IRGC-QF counterfeiting capabilities. Seif was involved with the logistics of importing
materials for the counterfeiting project into Iran. Additionally, Seif has previously been involved
in the procurement of weapons for the IRGC-QF.
Identifying information on the individuals and entities listed today
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https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/sm0219

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Treasury Designates Large-Scale IRGC-QF Counterfeiting Ring | U.S. Department of the Treasury

https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/sm0219

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