US puts Hizbollah lawmakers on sanctions blacklist for first time

WASHINGTON — The US Treasury placed two Hizbollah members of Lebanon's parliament on its sanctions blacklist on Tuesday — the first time Washington has taken aim at the Iran-allied group's elected politicians.

The Treasury named MPs Amin Sherri and Muhammad Hasan Raad to a terror-related blacklist, saying that Hizbollah uses its parliamentary power to advance its alleged violent activities.

Also placed on the blacklist was Wafiq Safa, a top Hizbollah official close to Hizbollah Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah.

"Hizbollah uses its operatives in Lebanon's parliament to manipulate institutions in support of the terrorist group's financial and security interests, and to bolster Iran's malign activities," said Sigal Mandelker, under-secretary of treasury for terrorism and financial intelligence.

The move came as the US steps up pressure on Iran and its alleged "proxies" in the Middle East, including Hizbollah, which Washington accuses of encouraging "terror" attacks. 

However, officials stopped short of a threatened sanctions action against Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif.

On June 24, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said Zarif would be added to the sanctions list "later this week," amid rising tensions in the Gulf.

A senior administration official who insisted on anonymity would not confirm that plan.

“We are obviously exploring ... various avenues for additional sanctions on Tehran. Obviously Foreign Minister Zarif is a figure of key interest,” she said.

It was the first time the US Treasury had placed Hizbollah lawmakers on its blacklist, which forbid US individuals and businesses with a US branch — including leading international banks — from doing business with those sanctioned.

“It is time we believe for other nations around the world to recognise that there is no distinction between Hizbollah’s political and military wing,” a senior administration official who insisted on anonymity told journalists.

“To any member of Hizbollah considering running for office, know that you will not be able to hide beneath the cover of political office,” the official said.

Raad, 64, is the head of the parliamentary bloc of the party and an MP since 1992.

Sherri, 62, is a 17-year Hizbollah veteran of parliament representing Beirut.

Safa, the Treasury said, maintains the group’s ties to financiers and allegedly helps arrange the smuggling of weapons and drugs.

The newest sanctions brought to 50 the number of Hizbollah individuals and entities blacklisted by the Treasury since 2017.